Summit Aviation began its 8th Annual Cancer Survivor Flight Camp yesterday. The camp, which runs through Friday, has brought together four young cancer survivors to train with Summit Aviation owner Ben Walton and company flight instructors to take a seat in the cockpit during the immersive five-day experience. 

The four campers began with a flight over the natural landscape of Montana, where the camp is based. Campers will also get unique glimpses into airports during private tours. On the final day, the campers will get an aerial view of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons in a “graduation flight,” which will take them to Driggs, Idaho.

“The event is such a special experience. 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,” said Walton. “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.”

Participants in this year’s camp are (last names omitted by Summit Aviation for privacy) Parker, a lymphoblastic leukemia survivor; Brianna, an osteosarcoma survivor; Seamus, a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor; and Quinn, a bone cancer survivor.