Our Story
  

When someone is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, such as liver cancer or a brain tumor, there are a number of experienced treatment centers across the country capable of treating such time-sensitive conditions. But what if the person is at a financial disadvantage? What if the patient requiring care doesn’t live near the particular hospital or medical research facility that he or she desperately needs?

Brian MacLeod and Mike Wright were working full-time as pilots when both men felt a powerful urging to somehow use their unique aviation skills to help others. Upon discovering the growing number of sick people who lack the necessary transportation to faraway treatment centers, an idea began to take shape. After a number of hours brainstorming, researching different methods, getting outside advice, and with the loving support of their wives, Diane and Cindy, Brian and Mike dedicated their time and resources to getting this plan off the ground. The first flight took place in 1996, and they have been helping others every since.

When deciding on a name for their group, they turned to the Greek New Testament, where the word “egairo” means “to bear aloft for healing.” In January of 2000, a small group of dedicated volunteers formally established Egairo as an official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit. Egairo’s mission, put simply, is to provide flights at no cost for people with special medical and humanitarian needs. Centralized in Springfield, Ohio, the volunteers at Egairo assist, whenever possible, financially disadvantaged persons in need of travel to a distant treatment centers.

The flights come to Egairo through two other non-profit organizations, Lifeline Pilots and Angel Flight. Lifeline Pilots and Angel Flight do all the patient screening and the determination of need. Missions are then posted by email to all pilots in the volunteer network. Whenever possible, Egairo responds: an Egairo pilot will fly an aircraft to the patient’s nearest available pick-up spot (typically one of the smaller, local airports). The pilot will then fly the patient to the treatment location.

The biggest challenge facing Egairo continues to be a financial one. An average flight costs between $500 and $750, depending on the location. Many passengers’ medical needs are time-sensitive, and although administrative costs are typically taken care of in-house, each flight has an individual cost, the largest being fuel. Without the necessary funding, that particular flight simply can’t take place.

Egairo greatly depends on the donations of the others in order to operate. With more funding, this non-profit organization will be able to fly more passengers to more destinations. To date, Egairo has helped almost 100 families arrive at a medical facility, giving those dealing with the illness and their families not only the opportunity to receive potentially life-saving medical care, but also an unspoken benefit that can be just as valuable as the treatment itself—a sense of hope.