Angel Flight East Kootenay has received a sizeable donation from seven regional Save-On-Foods grocery stores.
Stores in Cranbrook, Kimberley, Fernie, Sparwood, Golden, Creston and Nelson joined forces to raise $24,646.06 for Angel Flight East Kootenay, nearly $5,000 above the original goal.
Angel Flight East Kootenay is a volunteer-led organization that transports patients by plane to treatment centres in Kelowna. The money will be used to help fund trip-related expenses.
“This ongoing support is just so essential for us to keep providing this service,” said Angel Flight East Kootenay founder and president Brent Bidston
Regional Save-On-Foods stores began fundraising for Angel Flight five years ago, and in this time, have raised a total of $113, 457.
Bidston said the number of Angel Flight passengers has increased ever since they got a new aircraft and that pilots are now transporting up to 650 people per year. They see a lot of requests in the winter when the roads are in poor condition.
“We’re getting a lot more requests because people just do not want to drive over the winter passes and there are several between here and Kelowna,” he said.
At the cheque presentation on Dec. 14, Save-On-Foods Cranbrook manager Ted Murrell expressed his appreciation for the local businesses and loyal customers who contributed money to the cause. This year, Royal Lepage East Kootenay pitched in with $4,000.
For more information on Angel Flight East Kootenay or to donate visit www.angelflightek.ca
