Central Florida Pilot’s Hobby Helps Save Lives

LEESBURG, Fla. - Oct. 14, 2015 - PRLog -- Flying a private plane can be an expensive hobby; but for Umatilla resident Michael Alger it has become a passion with a purpose.

Alger volunteers to fly his Rockwell Commander 112TC on behalf of Angel Flight Southeast, a Leesburg-based not-for-profit organization. He is one of 650 volunteer pilots across Florida who helps adults and children get to specialized medical care that is not available near their home.

“Having a purpose makes aviation so much more than just a hobby from my perspective. I get to fly, and the fact that I have a passenger or two who need me to get somewhere just makes it so much more significant to me,” said Alger, who has been flying for Angel Flight Southeast since 2012. “I have been blessed beyond measure with aviation being a part of my life, and Angel Flight Southeast has provided a channel to give back.  Meeting our passengers, getting to know them and hearing their stories have been so inspirational. I really do think that at the end of the day I'm the one who really benefits from the program.”

Alger credits his mother, who was his first passenger, for encouraging him to get his pilot’s license.

“I lost her to cancer in 2009.  I joined Angel Flight in 2012 and was very excited when my first mission was assigned,” said Alger.  “A couple days prior to the mission, it was cancelled but they needed a pilot for another passenger that same day. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity.  As it turned out, this change resulted in me meeting my very first Angel Flight passenger, Joan, who shares my mother's first name.”

“The volunteer pilots in our network truly believe that they are the ones benefiting the most from the effort,” said Steve Purello, Angel Flight Southeast CEO and himself a volunteer pilot. “Their passion for our Angel Flight Southeast passengers is further fueled when the community gets involved with helping the people we serve get the medical care they need.”

While Angel Flight Southeast’s volunteer pilots donate their time, fuel and airplanes to transport passengers, the organization is still reliant on monetary donations to cover the various fees and services required to keep their pilots and passengers in the air.

The 19^th Annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, November 11, at Arlington Ridge Golf Club is one of Angel Flight Southeast’s signature fundraisers and the charity invites the public to support the event by purchasing a foursome or providing a sponsorship.

Participating golfers will enjoy breakfast and lunch that day as well as take part in several other activities including a “Helicopter Ball Drop Raffle,” an opportunity to shoot the golf ball “bazooka” and a chance for four people to win $1 million for a hole-in-one. Foursomes can elect to be paired with a sports celebrity or community VIP.

The Harper Family Charitable Foundation is the golf tournament’s title sponsor for the third year in a row but many other sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information about participating in or sponsoring the Angel Flight Southeast 19^th Annual Golf Tournament, please call (352) 326-0761, ext. 1100 or visit www.AngelFlightSE.org/events.

About Angel Flight Southeast

Angel Flight Southeast is a non-profit volunteer pilot organization that provides free air transportation to distant medical facilities when commercial air service is not available, impractical or simply not affordable. Angel Flight Southeast is a member of Air Charity Network, an association of charitable aviation organizations comprised of more than 7,500 pilots and who represent over 90% of all charitable non-emergency flights flown in the nation. Angel Flight Southeast has won the seal of approval from Independent Charities of America recognizing Angel Flight Southeast as a good steward of the funds it generates from the public.