Air Canada Coupons & Promo Codes April 2024

When Nicholas was diagnosed with leukemia, his family spent the first six months of treatment at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre in Montreal before returning home to Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in northern Quebec. After that, they had to go back regularly to Montreal, an eight-hour trip each way. "We drove in for those first appointments, and only one of us at a time could stay with Nicholas because we were both working," explained his mother, Marie-Josée Rannou. "He was free to go home after his chemo treatments, but they took a lot out of him. He was sore all over, he felt sick to his stomach, and he had to sit in the back of the car without anybody to curl up with, except during the few stops along the way."

Then the family heard about the Air Canada Foundation Hospital Transportation Program through Opération Enfant Soleil, an organization that works with pediatric healthcare facilities across Quebec. "We decided to give it a try," said Marie-Josée. "And it was a good thing we did. It let us focus our energies on Nicholas instead of keeping our eyes on the road. Those eight-hour car trips were brutal for him, especially in the winter when the driving conditions were less than ideal. What a relief it was to fly in or out in only an hour and a half." The shorter travel time also meant that Nicholas didn't miss as much school, since he could usually get to Montreal and back on the same day. That reduced his stress significantly. Today, 17-year-old Nicholas is in remission and doing very well."I urge everyone to donate their Aeroplan Miles to the Air Canada Foundation and its Hospital Transportation Program. Your gift will make life easier for other sick children who are forced to travel to seek medical care they simply can't get in their hometown," added Marie-Josée. "You can make a real difference for these kids and their families. Thank you for your help!"