Actually, once you get momentum on your side, it's pretty quick to yank a 67,000-pound airplane 100 metres.

Just ask the 12 young and fit guys from the Kelowna Chiefs hockey team who grabbed the thick rope attached to the front wheels of a WestJet Q400 and hauled it that 100 metres in 25.37 seconds.

Appropriately, they were at the Haul for Hope event this week at the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence beside Kelowna airport.

Haul for Hope is a fundraiser for Hope Air, the charity that provides free flights on commercial airlines and with private pilots for sick people in need to get the medical treatment they require far from home.

In all, eight teams of 12 people hauled the plane the required 100 metres, having fun and raising cash all the way.

The Kelowna Chiefs had the fastest time with that 25.37 seconds.

However, the team from Odlum Brown Investments was hot on their heels at 27.75 seconds.

Combined with its fundraising total of $4,240, Odlum Brown placed first overall.

The Kelowna Chiefs raised less than that, but their fundraising efforts on behalf of Hope Air continue.

Photo credit: Haul for HopeThe team from Odlum Brown Investments took first place with a combination of their pull time and fundraising efforts.

In total, the Kelowna Haul for Hope brought in $20,000 from the eight teams involved.

Again, this number will grow as the teams continue their fundraising efforts.

The Kelowna event is one of four such in Western Canada sponsored by WestJet, which not only provides the haul planes, but flies Hope Air patients for their medical appointments.

The other haul events in Western Canada are in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

Photo credit: Haul for HopeThe goal, pull this 67,000-pound WestJet Q400 plane 100 metres as fast as you can.

Haul for Hope symbolizes the immense challenge faced by patients who must travel long distances to access vital medical care.

But, it also demonstrates how, when people work as a team, just as Hope Air is a team, it is achievable to tug a plane 100 metres and it's achievable for those in need to get to their long-distance medical appointments.

Photo credit: Haul for HopeThe Kelowna Chiefs hockey team did it the fastest at 25.37 seconds.

Hope Air doesn't just provide free flights for patients, but also for a family members that needs to come along, as well as accommodations, meals and ground transportation.

Without Hope Air, 87% of patients felt they had no other travel option, 48% would have faced a nine to 13 hour car ride, each way, 65% would have plunged into debt and 25% would have to borrow money.

In 2023, Hope Air nationally fulfilled a record 24,998 total travel arrangements and is on track this year to do 40,000.

"Through our partnership with Hope Air, we are proud to remove barriers and facilitate critical air service to connect Canadians and their families to essential medical care and treatment," said April Crane, WestJet's director of corporate communications.

Photo credit: Haul for HopeThe Kelowna Haul for Hope gang.