On June 17th, people across British Columbia come together to recognize Hope Air Day. This day raises awareness about the growing need for medical travel support for patients who must travel long distances for important health care. The special Hope Air Day event in Prince George aims to unite British Columbia residents, government officials, corporations, donors, volunteers, and airline partners to address the issue of equal access to healthcare. Notable attendees at the event include Hope Air patients, volunteer pilots, municipal and provincial officials, and industry leaders.

In 2023, Hope Air provided over 14,000 travel arrangements, including free airline tickets, ground transportation, hotel stays, and meals for patients and their caregivers. These services reached over 196 communities across the province. Healthcare access inequality is a big problem in communities across British Columbia as ​​1 in 5 residents living in Northern or rural communities have had to cancel a medical appointment due to distance to care or cost. Hope Air supports patients for all health conditions recognized by the province, including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, transplants, respiratory, and a wide range of pediatric medical conditions.

Hope Air provides medical travel programs for people in rural and remote areas with the support of the Government of British Columbia, donors, and partners. Over one million people in British Columbia live far from specialized medical care, and Hope Air operates in 196 communities across the province, including rural, small, and underserved areas such as Terrace, Smithers, Fort Nelson, Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, Fort St. John, Creston, Prince Rupert, and Campbell River.

This Canadian charity is committed to ensuring equal access to healthcare in British Columbia by providing free travel support to those who need to leave their home communities for specialized medical care. You can help support Hope Air and its initiatives here.