Since 2007, WestJet and BGC Canada have partnered to transform the experiences of young people and staff from clubs across the country.
For children who require medical care far from home and beyond what their local physician can offer, distance and cost are significant barriers to accessing the care they need.
When Rowan was two years old, he was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), a chronic and painful disorder where Rowan’s immune system attacks cells and tissues in his joints. To get the specialized treatment Rowan needed, his family was required to visit B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver every three months. The four-hour drive from their home in Kelowna was long and uncomfortable for Rowan. WestJet flights made the journey much shorter, easier, and more comfortable for him. “We couldn’t imagine not having Hope Air,” Rowan’s mom, Katie, says. “It’s honestly just been amazing."
When Kalena was seven years old, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes irritation, inflammation and painful ulcers in the lining of the large intestine.
Kalena’s treatment meant returning to the hospital for up to three days every eight weeks. The 12-hour drive between Prince George and Vancouver is long and particularly uncomfortable for a child who is not feeling well. Thankfully, the hospital staff told Kalena’s mom, Kathy, about Hope Air.
“Our experiences have always been amazing. WestJet took really good care of us, and we just couldn’t have done it without Hope Air,” says Kathy. Thanks to Hope Air and WestJet, Kalena was able to access her regular treatments and is now in remission.
One day when Henry was too tired to play, his mother took him to the local hospital. Mom, Bristol, was heartbroken to learn that her eight-year-old boy had leukemia. Then they were told they would have to travel to regular chemotherapy treatments in Vancouver — a ten-hour round-trip drive away from their home in Kelowna, B.C. She didn’t have the means to fly him regularly to care, so she contacted Hope Air for help. After many flights with WestJet to his treatments, Henry is now in remission, but he will still need to travel to Vancouver every three months for the next four years. “With Hope Air, we were able to come home in between chemo treatments,” says Bristol. “Driving such a long distance would have been too much for Henry during that time.
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national, community-based organization of staff and volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer.
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