Air Daffodil still flying during pandemic
Program helping get cancer patients to treatment running as long as flights are
One thing that hasn’t changed since the COVID-19 lockdown began is the need for medical treatment and travel. While some non-essential services may be postponed, there are still many patients flying from Labrador to Newfoundland for health services such as cancer treatment.
In doing so, the patients and their families are incurring significant costs.
Al Pelley, Regional Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), wants people to know that the Air Daffodil program is still up and running. The program offers flights to Labradorians needing to travel for cancer treatment and appointments,
“Air Daffodil is still going, people are still coming to St. John’s for treatments,” he told Saltwire. “We continue to book flights for people as they need them. As long as there are flights from Labrador, we will provide them.”
Pelley said they just want to assure people the help is still available for flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CCS had to close Daffodil Place, Pelley said, to ensure the well-being and safety of patients and staff, and it will reopen as soon as they can safely. He said people are being put up in alternate accommodations in the city for the same nominal fee.
NEEDED SERVICE
Pelley said the program started five years ago in response to the need they saw in Labrador, with many having to travel and the high cost of flights.
“Many people couldn’t afford the flights and some people were not going to treatment because they couldn’t afford it, or they have to sell everything they worked a lifetime for to afford the airfare and accommodations.”
Pelley said they’re approaching the 1,350-flight mark soon and the program costs about $90,000 a year to operate.
They provide two flights a year for cancer patients and a companion to travel for treatment. That money comes from donations from the community, business partners and fundraisers, which Pelley said they could not do without. He said they have some great corporate partners, including Provincial Airlines, the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), Vale and the Labrador Fishermen’s Shrimp Union.
Health Bruce-veitch, director of communications and external relations for IOC, said they’re happy to help the Air Daffodil program and are glad they can help ease some stress for people.
“For us, the Air Daffodil program helps with that by ensuring that even if you’re in Labrador, far away from some required treatments, you have full access to health care. A lot of our employees have used the program and we’ve gotten such great accounts of how it helped them have one less thing on their list to worry about at a challenging time.”
IOC has been donating to the program for four years and this year gave $25,000.
Vale, who operates the Voisey’s Bay mine in northern Labrador, said they became involved for the same reasons.
Kristie Cochrane, manager of corporate affairs and communications for Vale, Newfoundland and Labrador Operations, said they have been a proud supporter of the CCS over the years and they are very aware of the costs associated with travel to the island portion of the province.
“Through the support of Air Daffodil, we hope to alleviate a small amount of the stress cancer patients face as they seek treatment outside of Labrador,” she said. “Availing of this service may in some way help them to focus less on finances and more so on getting better.”
HELP WHEN IT’S NEEDED
Another important component keeping the program running are the fundraisers put off by people in the communities it serves.
Valerie Rachwal of Happy Valley-goose Bay told Saltwire she first used Air Daffodil when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014. In her first year after she was diagnosed, she had to travel to St. John’s about five times and wasn’t in the financial position to deal with that herself.
“When you’re dealing with cancer, you shouldn’t have to be thinking about money. You should be thinking about your mental health, your physical health, spending time with family.”
Rachwal has held several fundraisers for the CCS and Air Daffodil over the years and said it’s important to the people of Labrador. The cost of travel is so high, she said, it’s really appreciated to have one less thing to worry about.
“One of the first things they tell you is not to go to your appointment alone,” she said. “How can you not come alone if you have to come up with $1,000 to bring someone with you? That’s why a program like this is so vital.”
CURLING FOR CANCER
For the last four years Cal Barrett has been helping raise money for the program through the Curling for Cancer event in Labrador west. This January, they hit a new highwater mark of $40,000.
Barrett said he became involved because he saw the need was there and as long as it’s needed, they’ll keep doing it.
“We’ve had substantial support from the people and the business community, they really come on board. I’ve known co-workers, family, friends, who have been impacted by cancer. It has touched everyone one way or another.”