''Miracle on Hudson'' crew to speak at Wings of Mercy's Annual Fundraiser

Wings of Mercy MN extends an invitation to hear Patrick Harten, Air Traffic Controller of Flight 1549, " and Doreen Welsh, Flight Attendant from Flight 1549, speak at our 14th annual benefit at the Buffalo Airport, right outside the Twin Cities, on September 26, 2009. This fundraiser produces an opportunity for you to become acquainted with the experiences of our organization by socializing with the volunteer organization's new president, our founder, the board members, pilots and nurses, administration staff and other volunteers. All pilots, nurses, and other professionals come to Wings trained and licensed. We pay nothing for storage of planes, maintenance costs, or training costs. The pilots donate their planes and their expertise flying most missions in the upper Midwest area. Wings does reimburse the pilots for the aviation fuel used during transport. An average mission costs $875.00 in fuel and we fly on average 5 missions per month. Most of our recipients are children. Our recipients are not emergency victims; they are medical patients who are going in for follow-up treatments for cancer, or spinal surgery after a car accident, or hip surgery for a cerebral palsy patient or a premature baby with lung problems. These recipients would not get the follow-up treatment if it was not for Wings of Mercy.