TORONTO — Brian Friedman, 15, already has plans for next summer.
The Grade 10 student at the Anne and Max Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto plans to fly a single-engine, two-seater plane around Canada to raise money for Water Aid, an organization that’s partnered with Engineers Without Borders and is committed to creating sustainable wells and providing clean water supplies in Third World countries.
Brian, who has a student pilot licence, said in a telephone interview that the journey combines his two passions: flying and social action.
He’s always wanted to fly, he said, but it wasn’t until his father and stepmother saw a Groupon for a free flying lesson at the Brampton Flight Centre that he really “caught the bug.”
He began taking lessons about 1-1/2 years ago, and “just kept going.
“I can fly, but I can’t drive,” he said.
“I love the feeling of being in the air, being in control and getting away from life. Looking down and seeing the greenery and landscape is mind-blowing. I’ve flown past the CN Tower, over Collingwood, to Guelph – wherever ” he said.
For now, he can’t fly alone, but he’s planning to take an exam soon that will enable him to fly solo.
“This is what I want to do. I plan either to join the military, start my own airline or fly commercially.”
His idea for a fundraiser came about a few months ago, when he was drinking a cup of water, “and realized how grateful I should be to have clean and accessible water,” he said.
“It was a strange thought, but the more I considered it, the more it made sense. In many Third World countries, people have no choice but to drink contaminated water. The lack of sanitary conditions accounts for 5,000 deaths per day.”
He decided to create a fundraising campaign, A Flight to Save. “All donations made before and during my journey will be donated to Water Aid. I plan to cover all of my expenses through sponsorships and corporate support.”
His trip, 62 hours in length over 1-1/2 weeks, will start in Toronto and include Montreal, Moncton, Halifax, St. John’s, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Vancouver, Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.
“I’m very excited.”
His goal is to raise $50,000, he said, “because I know there is a problem, [and] the time for change is now. People need to come together and make a difference. I hope that taking this journey will allow people in Third World countries to gain hope and feel that people actually care about them.”
As a Jew, he said, he feels he has an obligation to be a community leader and stand up to help others.
“I believe that people who say ‘You can’t,’ are followers. Be a leader, take your ideas and soar high.”
Visit Brian’s website at www.aflighttosave.com, or go to A Flight to Save’s Facebook page, for more information.