HIGH FLYING HOPES showing their best side
A round-the-world flight fundraiser By Rebecca Dumais
A
s the 27-year-old pilot and Oakville resident Callum Wallace will tell you, nobody does a round-the-world flight in a single-engine aircraft just for a joyride. To undertake the journey is done out of purpose. Wallace took a meaningful cause under his wing and, at the controls of his V35B Beechcraft Bonanza, embarked on a worldwide journey to raise money for Home Suite Hope (HSH), a Halton-based charity that helps mothers with children overcome homelessness. Selected families are taken through a four-year program that provides housing and college tuition for the mother to help the family become strong and independent.
His solo journey began on May 23, 2023, flying east from Canada with stops in about 26 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and islandhopping along Pacific Island nations. He even received donations midair. “Even when I’d been over the ocean and I made a radio call – the pilots flying the airline heard me and questioned why and how I am where I am, Googled me and made donations!”
It’s a logistical challenge more than anything and very tough to plan, especially if there are areas of the world in conflict/wars.”
When Wallace got to know his aircraft hangar neighbour where he rented space for his plane, the British man told Wallace about a round-the-world journey he’d done with his partner in 2014. “Hearing about the mission and stories, set the idea in my mind at this time,” he says. No one does this trip ‘for fun’ – small airplanes like 110 | November • December 2023
this are NOT made to go these distances and through a lot of the countries I had to navigate. I knew it would be a challenge but one that I was up for!”
The fundraiser campaign began on June 25 at the Burlington Executive Airpark Airport, the starting and finishing points of his three-month round-the-world journey. bestsidemagazine.com
