Annual Haul for Hope plane pull at YVR raises more than $125,000

Employees from Metro Vancouver businesses and Vancouver International Airport took part in the annual Haul for Hope fundraiser at YVR on Sept. 22, racing to pull a 67,000-pound WestJet Q400 aircraft 100 metres across the tarmac. Neptune Terminals posted the fastest time, completing the pull in 32.93 seconds.

Hosted by YVR and Canadian charity Hope Air, the event raised more than $125,000 for flights, accommodations, food vouchers and ground transportation for patients who must travel far from home for medical treatment. YVR’s four employee teams raised about $19,000, which the airport matched for a total donation of more than $39,000.

Hope Air patient Devon and his mother, Vanessa, travelled from Kamloops to attend. Devon, diagnosed with acute advanced Crohn’s disease at age 11, still travels about 400 kilometres to BC Children’s Hospital for specialized care. Vanessa was later diagnosed with stage 3 uterine cancer, requiring the family to travel among Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver for treatment.

Hope Air completed more than 5,594 travel arrangements at YVR last year and has worked with the airport for 15 years to help B.C. patients and families access care. Hope Air chief hope officer Mark Rubinstein said the organization helps reduce a major barrier for families facing serious diagnoses when specialized care is hundreds of kilometres away.