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"For over 30 years

we've been arranging free flights so children and adults
can have access to the far-from-home doctors that can save their lives."

Healthcare for Heroes award winner

Healthcare Champions award winner

Update January 30, 2015

See all events

Upcoming Events

Challenge Air January 31st, 2015 Calling all pilots!

Saturday January 31, 2015 from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST

We are so excited to announce registration is now open for the Kids Fly Day event on January 31st, 2015 located at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport hosted by Banyan Air Service. Pilots and families, to register please go to www.challengeair.org and on the left side of the page is a tab that says Event Schedule / Register here.

Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE)

Flight with the AeroShell Aerobatic Team! April 25, 2015

Raffle tickets are $20

Volunteer Pilot Orientation (3rd Mondays) February 16, 7pm

Monday February 16, 2015 from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM EST

This is a 1:15 training session for volunteer pilots, both new and experienced. Hosted by Brian Jarvis. Training takes places in your home, on the phone and on your PC every third Monday evening at 7pm.

Mercy Flight Southeast at NATCA - Communicating For Safety Conference March 2-5, 2015

Monday March 2, 2015 at 1:00 PM EST -to- Thursday March 5, 2015 at 1:00 PM EST

Rio Hotel

Volunteer Pilot Orientation (3rd Mondays) March 16, 7pm

Monday March 16, 2015 from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM EDT

Garcia girls Andrea, mom, pilot Marc Miller, dad and Maria

Congratulations
2014 Pilot of the Year Honorees!

Some of the 2013 Pilot of the Year honorees

We will be congratulating these fine pilots and recognizing many more at our annual Pilot Awards Gala in West Palm Beach on April 10th! This year we are being generously sponsored by the Dr. Norris Family foundation allowing us to recognize many more pilots than ever!

For more info, see "Upcoming Events" on the left side of the newsletter. If you want tickets to this event or the golf tournament the following day act fast! This WILL be a sellout event!

This year the Pilot of the Year Honorees are:

Pilot of the Year Honoree	Region/Category
Charles Gould	North Florida
John Epley	North Florida
George Robbins	North Florida
Rick Wachstein	Central Florida West
Warren Cheatham	Central Florida West
John Hanselman	Central Florida West
David Walker	Central Florida East
Steven High	Central Florida East
Alan Hoffberg	Central Florida East
Marc C. Miller	Southwest Florida
Gregory Frost	Southwest Florida
Brian Lucas	Southwest Florida
Greg Banfield	South Florida
David Rivero	South Florida
Fouad (Sam) Samaha	South Florida
Charles George	Georgia
Rodger Knox	Georgia
Howard Wasdin	Georgia
Delbert Hahn	Alabama
Harry Palmer	Alabama
William (Erik) Box	Alabama
Broadus Bowman	South Carolina
John H. (Jack) Schuler	South Carolina
Robert (Bob) Butler	South Carolina
Ernest Burdette	Mississippi
James "Bo" Burroughs	Mississippi
Paul Cellecz	Transplant
Fred Cutting	Transplant
Charles Gould	Transplant
Brian Lucas	Rookie
Gregg Ostrander	Rookie
Tim Bouchard	Rookie
Bradley Pierce	Above & Beyond
Michael Alger	Above & Beyond
Broadus Bowman	Above & Beyond
Greg Frost	Dr. Norris Award
Alan Hoffberg	Dr. Norris Award
Howard Wasdin	Dr. Norris Award

Thank you pilots!

Milestones

Congratulations to the following pilots:

	Allen Nodorft	1st Mission Recognition!
	Paul Zavracky	1st Mission Recognition!
	Stephen Raville	1st Mission Recognition!

Milestones is a new feature we will be using to celebrate our volunteer's efforts. Future weeks will publish many more milestones including 1,5,10,25,50 missions and more!!

These are the very special pilots that volunteered to take one or more of our many weekly missions. Thank you!!

Mark Nowicki

Richard Ramey

Terry Moore

Phil Gross

Dave Rivero x3

Barbara Mathews

Larry Hedden

Charles George

Warren Cheatham

Art Elliott

Tony De Santis

Kelly Gottlieb

John Hanselman

Mookie Bahiri

Dave Walker x2

Robert Towe

Ed Golly

Stephen Raville

John Epley

Rick Wachstein

Dr. Randall Cole

Allen Nodorft x2

Fred Cutting - Transplant Mission!

56 mission legs were coordinated 1/17/2015 to 1/2/2015

Dr. Delbert Hahn x2

Steve High

Greg Banfield

Dave Rivero x2

Paul Zavracky

Greg Frost

Harry Palmer

Tim Russell

Harvey Moore x2

Mark Spencer

Dr. Ben Gomez

Mike Coutcher

Mookie Bahiri

Ed Golly

Frank Brunot

Warren Cheatham

Steve High

51 mission legs were coordinated 1/24/2015 to 1/30/2015

David and his companion Victoria on his first flight . Pilot Steve High returned them home after receiving treatment at Moffitt Cancer Ctr

Pilot Mookie Bahiri holding a smiling, little Adonis with his mom Aracelis. Adonis had a multi-visceral transplant 10/28/13 and travels for post transplant clinic appointments.

Pilot Orientation class

Every third Monday

Next one: Monday February 16th 7pm

(attend by telephone/PC)

Register on left of newsletter under "Upcoming Events"

This class is a must-have for our new pilots, but experienced volunteer pilots are welcome as well. Pilots only, please.

Pilot Brian Jarvis will be covering a variety of topics for enhancing the experience of flying our unique missions.

One hour class, telephone and internet enabled PC, laptop or tablet required.

Please sign up on left. Instructions and dial-in number will be sent.

Volunteer Opportunities
(Help Wanted)

Please register for these on the links to the left, or email Steve at steve.purello@mercymail.org

HELP!!!!
We are going to forfeit if we can't find someone!!!
Can anyone please volunteer as Team Captain?

2015 Amazing race for Charity Saturday April 11th

Eustis, FL

Team Captain and 10 participants needed! While the details of the race are kept secret until the night before the race, we can tell you that past races have averaged between 5 and 6 miles on foot. Along the way, teams of two complete 20 challenge stations that may be as simple as solving a puzzle or reciting Miranda Rights to as difficult as building a 2-person tent or rappelling off a tower. While typical runners may take 2+ hours to complete the race, the overall winning times range from 1:30:00 to 1:40:00. Team Captain will need to attend two meetings in advance of April. This sounds like fun!

If interested in volunteering or have questions, please email me at steve.purello@mercymail.org

Volunteer appreciation breakfast

Special thanks to J. Jay Green, Kathy Grange and Bruce Brown for buying the food and cooking everyone breakfast omelets! I got sick last-minute and they stepped up to save the day!

J. Jay, Kathy & Bruce Master Chefs

Question, comments or concerns?
Contact us at (352) 326-0761
or email us at info@mercymail.org

Our organization entirely relies on donations to keep going. More than ever, we could use your help. Please consider making a donation today. Even better, make a recurring donation to help all year long.