Soroptimist of Friday Harbor and the San Juan Eagles provide free airplane service and ferry tickets from Friday Harbor to the mainland for any San Juan Islander undergoing cancer treatments at mainland treatment centers.
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor raises funds for the Cancer Treatment Support Mission through their annual Fundraising Event and Opportunity Drawing Tickets sales at the local grocery stores. All of the money raised goes directly to the Cancer Mission, supplying ferry tickets for cancer patients who need to go off island for treatment. Over $18,000 was spent on this project in 2009, most of it was raised through the annual fundraiser, but it also included generous donations received throughout the year. Donations can be made to Soroptimist Friday Harbor (with a note ‘Cancer Mission) and mailed to Post Office Box 2856, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. If you have need of these services, please contact Liz Illg at 317-4010.
The San Juan Eagles are a group of private pilots who volunteer their time and resources by providing flights for patients. There are currently 30 San Juan Eagle pilots on the call list and approximately 12 fly consistently. The group has been active for nine years. They provide about 200 flights a year depending on the need of each patient. The Eagles are not a subsidiary of the Soroptimist club but work in conjunction by providing transportation. For info on their services call Vicky Thalacker 378-4578/378-2300 or Dr. John Geyman 378-6264. If you are a pilot and would like to help with this project please call Vicky Thalacker.
Patients flying to the Skagit and Bellingham Airports can use courtesy cars at these airports for transportation to nearby treatment centers. Use of courtesy vehicles is generously donated by Foothills Pontiac Buick Toyota in Burlington, Corporate Air and the Bellingham Air Taxi Company.
