Hope Air raises $140,000 through Haul for Hope events

Hope Air’s third annual Haul for Hope event raised a record $140,000 to support Canadians who must travel long distances for essential medical care. The fundraising initiative, which included a competition in Calgary, involved 20 teams pulling a 67,000-pound WestJet aircraft 100 metres across the tarmac at Signature Aviation YYC.

Similar events were held at the Edmonton International Airport, where teams competed to pull a 30,000 kg WestJet Dash 8 plane. These fundraisers aim to support Hope Air’s mission of providing flights and accommodations for low-income patients and those in remote communities.

Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has arranged over 277,000 free flights. In 2025, the charity facilitated 38,392 travel arrangements, including 14,433 flights across 710 Canadian communities. The organization notes that one in three patients reports they would cancel or postpone medical care without such assistance.