Ed Johnston loves taking folks for their first plane rides but he’s apt to tear up over some of his passengers.
The former Canadian Tire executive and current president of the Brantford Flying Club says his experiences as a volunteer pilot for Hope Air have been emotional.
“One day I was flying a double liver transplant patient who told me he hadn’t seen his kids in nine months,” says Johnston.
“The family reunion at the airport when we landed wasn’t something I was anticipating but seeing that was very rewarding.”
Hope Air specializes in getting some of Canada’s 10 million people who live at a distance, from urban centers to medical tests and surgeries in major hospitals for what can be life-saving treatment.
The charity takes care of the flights – often out of small northern communities – ground transportation and accommodation if needed for low-income families who can’t afford to travel for treatment.
On Saturday, Johnston helped organize a fundraiser for Hope Air that drew dozens of pilots and supporters to the Brantford Airport for food, fun and the chance to support the group.
The event caused a bit of a traffic jam in the skies as 50 to 60 small planes circled, waiting for a chance to land.
Pilots were encouraged to consider joining an expedition – a five-day jaunt in June that will help raise funds and awareness for Hope Air while visiting communities that include some of the regular stops for the charity.
Jon Collins, the association’s chief development officer, said the event will be like a touring day for motorcyclists or car enthusiasts.
“The pilots get to go on a fun trip, do good work together and we expect the expedition to raise about $600,000.”
Those funds will cover about 600 Hope Air trips, Collins said, with the pilots paying all their own expenses.
Similar expeditions are being held across the prairies and on the west coast.
Johnston said Saturday’s airport event was a huge success at both raising awareness and raising more than $5,000.
“We planned for 100 to 120 people, bought food for 150 and we’re now over 200,” he said happily.
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