EXETER, Maine (WABI) – A group of pilots from all across the country meet right here in Maine to raise money for Make-A-Wish Maine. Their yearly gathering began Wednesday.
The idea for Wings for Wishes began in 2017 when organizer Jim Crane flew into Old Orchard Beach and asked a child a simple question.
“Would you like to get in the airplane? He picked up the little feller, he turned around, and his mother was crying. He didn’t know that that was one of his last wishes, was to actually sit in an airplane,” described Wings for Wishes supporter Mike Allen.
Since then, the group has only grown, raising over $60,000 for Make-A-Wish last year.
The group of pilot friends get together once a year, flying across Maine, receiving donations for the cause.
“It’s just a chance to help out. All of these guys have been pretty successful in life and been able to take some of that success and bring them all together, and make some money for Make-A-Wish, and let’s be honest, it’s money that makes Make-A-Wish happen,” stated Crane.
The idea for Wings for Wishes was sparked in 2017, and people keep coming back for two reasons, raising money for a good cause and airplanes.
“You get to know people, and you develop this relationship with them because of the love of flying, and if you want to talk about a passionate group of people, just ask them about flying and they’ll go on forever,” said Wings for Wishes supporter Peter Brown.
The group was forced inside due to Friday’s rain. Once it let up, the flying began.
Bringing a group of people together obsessed with one thing, giving them a goal, that’s their formula for success.
“The airplane is just a vehicle that takes us where we want to go,” answered Crane. “It’s the people and the friendships that we made and we have. All of these guys in the room right here would do anything for me, and I would do anything for them.”
“It works because there’s so many kids out there that can do so much if they had a little more help, and something we love to do is fly, and by us flying and getting together and raising donations, we have a lot we can do to give,” concluded Brown.
Wings for Wishes will close Sunday as everybody flies home.
If you wish to donate to Make-A-Wish Maine, click here.
Copyright 2024 WABI. All rights reserved.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66b6954c61ae42ca846ba0a1ec77c4ed&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wabi.tv%2F2024%2F08%2F09%2Fpilots-come-together-make-a-wish-maine%2F&c=2873396923010955562&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-08-09 10:51:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
