USA Angel Flights Benefit Cancer Patients

For the past nine years, USA’s corporate plane has been helping cancer patients receive treatment through the Corporate Angel Network (CAN). By using an empty seat on USA’s corporate aircraft traveling on routine business, cancer patients are brought to Houston to receive treatment at no cost. USA has completed 41 flights since 2000.

“USA encourages charitable activities and is very big on volunteer work,” said Lynn Hughes, USA Corporate Aviation Flight Scheduler. “Helping others in need is one of the things USA does with great pride.”

USA has two corporate planes that are based in Houston, which is home to one of the country’s leading cancer research and treatment facilities, M.D. Anderson.

The corporate planes make routine flights to Alabama, Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C. CAN coordinates with USA’s flight scheduler to fill open seats on planes when a patient needs travel assistance.

“The Corporate Angel folks call every week to get an updated schedule of our trips,” Hughes said. “And whenever we have a seat available, we fly their patients either going to or from treatment at M.D. Anderson.”

CAN is the only charitable organization in the U.S. whose sole mission is to ease the emotional stress, physical discomfort and financial burden of travel for cancer patients by arranging free flights to treatment centers. The cost of many treatments are enormous and often only performed at maybe one of a few specific centers around the country. CAN provides a way for patients to travel with a spouse or companion to assist them and to receive treatment they might not be able to have otherwise.

Hughes admits that over the years, she has gotten very attached to a couple of patients and has learned a lot from them about courage and gratitude.

“It’s amazing to watch and listen to some of these brave people,” Hughes said. “They have such positive attitudes and great spirits even in the lowest part of their lives. To see how appreciative they are of our company’s efforts really gives you a great feeling just to be a small part of making it happen for them.”

Eligibility to participate in the program is open to all cancer patients, bone marrow donors and bone marrow recipients who are ambulatory and not in need of medical support while traveling. Eligibility is not based on financial need, and patients may travel as often as necessary.

  “The program offers an obvious and meaningful benefit to cancer patients along with the opportunity for companies with corporate aircraft to provide a wonderful community service by merging business activities with social responsibility,” said Bonnie LeVar, Corporate Angels Network President.

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