For residents in rural parts of the country, finding medical care can be a challenge, and it often comes at a high price. But a program based in St. Cloud is helping put an end to this dilemma. A group of amateur pilots volunteer their time to fly patients to hospitals in larger cities. They call themselves Wings of Mercy and they do all their work for free. He's run through this checklist countless times in his 15 years as a pilot, but since 1996, preparing for a flight has taken on new meaning.
Every pilot likes to fly, so any excuse to fly more is always a plus.
I don't think anybody in the group had any idea that they were going to get so tied to it. And I don't think I've ever talked to any of the pilots who have flown in the group who haven't come away with something extremely close to them. Braksted has flown more than 30 missions for Wings of Mercy. He is one of some 45 pilots who donate their time and their planes to fly low-income people to hospitals where they can get specialized medical care. The missions are often very emotional, says Braksted, but also rewarding.