Imagine learning that your child needs life-saving medical treatment — but it’s located hundreds or even thousands of miles away, in a city you’ve never been to, with specialists you’ve never met. The diagnosis alone is overwhelming, but the next question can be just as paralyzing: How will we get there?
For many families across the country, the cost of travel is a barrier they can’t overcome. That’s where Helping Wings steps in. They're a compassionate, high-flying organization that bridges the distance between children and the critical care they need, offering free medical flights to those facing some of the toughest journeys of their lives.
Jason Kirschnick, the founder of Helping Wings, knows firsthand the emotional and financial toll that comes with battling serious illness. Having experienced profound loss within his own family, he understands the quiet desperation that can settle over a household when a loved one is fighting for their life. It was at a Beat Childhood Cancer fundraiser in Tampa — an event he and his wife attended out of support for a close friend and their daughter — that the mission truly took flight. As a licensed commercial pilot with ATP certification and access to a team of people who believe in the cause, Jason realized he had the unique tools to make a difference. How could he not? The question became his call to action, and Helping Wings was born from that moment of clarity and compassion.
At its core, Helping Wings exists to erase the miles that separate children from the care they urgently need. By raising funds to cover the full cost of air travel, the organization partners with a network of dedicated volunteer pilots who donate both their time and expertise. Their shared goal is simple but powerful: to make sure no child is denied access to critical medical treatment because of financial hardship or distance. Fueled by compassion and community support, Helping Wings becomes more than a flight — it becomes a lifeline, ensuring children reach the hospitals, specialists and healing they deserve, exactly when they need it most.
If you're wondering how to help, the answer is just a click away. By visiting HelpingWings.org, you can make a direct impact through donations, sponsorships or by organizing a local fundraiser. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps fuel another flight, another chance, another story of hope in the making.
As the Helping Wings team shares on the organization’s blog, “Every donation tells a story.” For families navigating the harsh reality of pediatric cancer, that story begins with a flight made possible by someone like you. These nonprofit missions aren’t just about getting from point A to point B — they’re about removing one of the biggest barriers families face when specialized treatment is far from home. Whether it’s a cross-country trip to a top cancer center or a short regional flight for follow-up care, the support you provide delivers more than transportation — it delivers hope.
For parents already overwhelmed by medical bills, time off work and emotional exhaustion, a no-cost flight can feel like a miracle. Your donation could be the reason a child reaches a clinical trial, receives a vital surgery or makes it in time for chemotherapy. And if you’re looking for a way to get involved beyond giving, sponsoring a flight or hosting a community fundraiser can be a powerful way to give back.
Jason is quick to emphasize that Helping Wings is about more than just the flight. They're about responding to a growing crisis in pediatric cancer care. As he puts it, these missions are a frontline response to a system stretched too thin, where families are often left to navigate life-threatening diagnoses with too few resources and too little time.
“There’s a quiet emergency happening,” says the team at Helping Wings. “It’s not just about getting a child to a hospital — it’s about confronting the harsh reality that access to care is still unequal. The right treatment might exist, but it’s often out of reach for families who don’t have the means to get there.”
Helping Wings steps into that gap with urgency and compassion. Their flights aren’t just a service — they’re a solution, a bridge to care that would otherwise remain unavailable. Every flight is a response to something much bigger than distance. It’s a way of saying you are not alone to families who feel forgotten in the chaos of the healthcare maze.
In a world where timing can mean everything, Helping Wings ensures that no child’s chance at survival is grounded by circumstance. With every takeoff, they carry not just passengers — but hope, healing and the unwavering belief that distance should never determine destiny.
Donate at HelpingWings.org or request a flight for a child. Reach out to jason@helpingwings.org for more information.