32,000 km in 60 days the goal of fundraising pilots

Kelowna Flying Club president Dave McElroy will be flying around South America in a twoseater plane to raise money for Hope Air next year.

Hope Air provides free flights to people across Canada who have to go far from home for medical care.

McElroy and two pilots from Saskatchewan and Ontario will embark on a 32,000-kilometre journey over 60 days, including 50 flights across 20 countries, in an effort to raise $500,000 for the organization.

This will not be McElroy’s first flight for charity.

“Three years ago, I flew around the world for the Sick Kids Foundation,” he said.

Last year, McElroy decided he wanted to do a similar adventure for another charity.

“I was flying up to Alaska with 10 other friends and started talking about how it would be good to do another long distance flight and do some good,” he said. “We approached Hope Air because they’re such a great charity, performing such an amazing service for Canadians who are financially challenged and need to get to health care a long ways from home.”

The planning process for the trip has been a long and complex one, said McElroy.

“There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle.”

McElroy will fly a two-seater Van’s RV aircraft, which is limited to flying about 800 kilometres at a time, he said.

The other two pilots, Russell Airey and Harold Fast, will also be flying in two-seater Van’s RV aircrafts.

“We decided to circumnavigate South America because I’ve been around the world, but I haven’t spent a lot of time in South America,” said McElroy.

McElroy will be flying solo, but he is offering his passenger seat to anyone looking for an adventure.

“We’ve divided the trip into eight segments, and we’re offering those up for anyone who wants to experience a flight of a lifetime, have an extraordinary adventure and make a generous donation to Hope Air,” he said.

Being a pilot is not necessary, but those who go up in the air with McElroy will be encouraged to take the controls for parts of their routes.

For more information or to donate, go online to givehopewings.ca or contact McElroy at 778-215-4114 or at dave@givehopewings.ca