Las Vegas, NV, Aug. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Miracle Flights, the nation’s leading medical flight charity, provided 691 free commercial flights in July to help critically ill children around the country gain access to life-changing medical care far from home, the organization reported today. Since its founding in 1985, the Las Vegas–based national nonprofit has provided a total of 119,470 flights and donated more than 67 million nautical miles to connect sick children with the doctors and specialists who can best treat them.
Flights are arranged through commercial airlines at no cost to families and provided as many times as necessary, whether it’s a one-time flight to confirm a diagnosis or several flights for ongoing treatments, surgeries and follow-up appointments.
“When families come to Miracle Flights, it’s because their local doctor has referred them to experts out of state. So the families know where they have to go, but they need some financial assistance to get there—especially if they’re flying multiple times,” said Miracle Flights CEO Mark E. Brown. “While insurance can cover many aspects of treatment, it doesn’t cover the cost of plane tickets. That’s where Miracle Flights comes in. We bridge that critical gap and provide a cure for distance.”
Though general financial criteria does apply for families to qualify for a flight, Brown emphasizes that the organization recognizes extenuating circumstances.
“We understand that families can face a tremendous financial burden when they have a sick child—with stacks of medical bills piling up, lost wages due to time off for doctors’ appointments and other children to care for,” said Brown. “That’s why we encourage families in need of assistance to call our flight department and discuss their situation with us. We want to help as many families as we can.”
Miracle Flights programs include domestic flights to all U.S.–based medical treatment facilities. For information, to request a flight and to make a donation to help Miracle Flights continue its mission, call 800-359-1711 or visit miracleflights.org.
About Miracle Flights
Miracle Flights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free medical air transportation to children and adults via commercial airlines throughout the United States. With over three decades of service to families in need, Miracle Flights has coordinated more than 119,000 flights and counting. For more information about Miracle Flights, to request flight assistance, or to make a donation, call 800-359-1711 or visit miracleflights.org. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.