At Calgary’s third annual plane-pull fundraiser, community teams pulled a 67,000-pound WestJet aircraft to raise a record $140,000 for Hope Air, supporting Canadians who must travel long distances for medical appointments.
Haul for Hope YYC raised $140,000 — the highest total to date at the Calgary event — to support free medical flights for patients and caregivers.
Twenty teams pulled a 67,000-pound WestJet aircraft 100 metres at Signature Aviation YYC, combining fundraising, volunteer effort, and public awareness.
The event aligned with milestone anniversaries: Hope Air’s 40th year and WestJet’s 30th year in operation, and involved YYC as a recurring host.
# What happened Hope Air held its third annual Haul for Hope event in Calgary, presented by WestJet. The fundraiser raised $140,000 to help Canadians who need to travel long distances to access essential medical care. The event took place at Signature Aviation YYC and involved teams pulling a WestJet aircraft across the tarmac.
# The mechanics of the fundraiser Twenty teams participated. Each team pulled a 67,000-pound WestJet aircraft 100 metres. The activity combined friendly competition with direct fundraising: teams, volunteers and donors contributed time and money so Hope Air can continue arranging travel for patients and caregivers who cannot otherwise reach medical appointments.
# Why the money matters Hope Air arranges free flights and travel support for patients and caregivers who face geographic and financial barriers to care. Funds raised at Haul for Hope go toward those flights and related services. Organizers and participants described the event as a visible, tangible demonstration of community support for people making difficult medical journeys.
Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Chief Operating Officer of WestJet Group, highlighted community support and the combined effort of teams, volunteers and donors. Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer at Hope Air, spoke about the emotional impact of seeing community members rally around patients on the tarmac. Megan Gupton, Chief Information Officer at Calgary Airports, noted YYC's role as host for the third consecutive year and the local community's ongoing involvement.
# Context and milestones The 2026 Haul for Hope coincided with anniversaries for both organizations: Hope Air celebrated 40 years of arranging patient travel, and WestJet marked 30 years of service. YYC has hosted the Calgary plane-pull event for three years, making it an established fundraising activity in the airport community.
# Immediate outcomes and tone The event combined spectacle and purpose: the physical challenge of pulling an aircraft drew attention and created a fund-raising vehicle, while organizers emphasized the practical outcome — enabling patients and caregivers to reach medical care. The $140,000 total was presented as a record for this Calgary event.
# Takeaways for readers
# What to watch next Future Haul for Hope events in other cities or continued editions at YYC will indicate whether the plane-pull model scales or attracts larger corporate and community participation. Hope Air's continued fundraising performance will affect its capacity to provide free flights to patients across Canada.
Haul for Hope supports Hope Air, a national charity that provides free medical flights for Canadians who can’t afford it, from remote regions across the country.
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