Summit Aviation Hosts 8th Annual Cancer Survivor Flight Camp Next Week
Camper Stephanie prepares for a flight with Summit Aviation President, Ben Walton, during the company's annual Cancer Survivor Flight Camp.
Photo credit: Capture Now Studios
Belgrade, MT—June 23, 2022 – Summit Aviation is thrilled to announce the kickoff of our 8th Annual Cancer Survivor Flight Camp June 27th- July 1st. Hosted in conjunction with local non-profit Eagle Mount Bozeman, the camp offers the unique opportunity for young cancer survivors to get into the cockpit and fulfill their dreams of flying while training with Summit Aviation’s Certified Flight Instructors as well as company owner, Ben Walton.
“The event is such a special experience,” says Walton, “All of our campers have missed out on fun or cool opportunities during their treatments, and some of them still deal with limitations from that to this day. This camp provides an incredible opportunity for those young cancer survivors to not only explore their love of aviation, but also boost their confidence and show them what they’re capable of. We’re really excited to celebrate our 8th year of camp and I’m sure it will be the best yet.”
The Flight Camp brings four young cancer survivors to Summit Aviation’s award-winning flight school in Belgrade, MT for a five-day immersive camp. This year’s campers include Parker, a Lymphoblastic Leukemia survivor, Brianna, an osteosarcoma survivor, Seamus, a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor and Quinn, a bone cancer survivor.
Each day begins with a flight over Montana’s beautiful landscapes, followed by themed lunches donated by various local restaurants and grocery stores, ground courses by Summit’s instructors, and behind-the-scenes private airport tours. The week culminates in a “graduation flight” to Driggs, Idaho, during which campers get a bird’s eye view of the majestic Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons.
This program would not be able to be a soaring success without the generosity of Flight Camp’s many donors. Sponsors donate both monetarily and through needed food and supplies to make the Flight Camp come to fruition. This year’s donors include Jet Aviation, River Bend Threads, Bozeman Yellowstone Airport Fire Station & Maintenance Crew, Embraer, Warbirds Café, Town & Country Foods, New Day Bakery, Rise and Shine Café & Bakery, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Roost Fried Chicken, McKenzie River Pizza Co., Albertsons, Montana 99s, Rocky Mountain Surgical Center, Billings Clinic and our many individual donors. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this camp possible! Without your generosity and passion for this community, our Cancer Survivor Flight Camp would remain grounded.
About Summit Aviation
Founded in 2001, Summit Aviation, Inc. is a comprehensive aviation center specializing in aircraft sales, charter operations, aircraft management, and pilot training with retention. The company is one of the Northwest’s premier charter operators, the official flight training provider for Gallatin College MSU’s aviation program and has become a leader in the general aviation safety community.
