BOSTON – June 16, 2021- The VHL Alliance has partnered with Angel Flight NE to provide free air transportation to VHL patients who must travel outside of their geographic area for critical surgeries and other treatments. Many patients do not live near any VHL Clinical Care Centers or other major research hospitals that provide the specialized care needed to effectively treat VHL.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a genetic disorder that allows tumors, including some cancers, to grow in the kidneys, brain, eyes, and seven other parts of the body. There is no cure for VHL but with modern surgical techniques and therapies patients and their physicians can effectively manage the disease. This partnership, by making access to these treatments more widely available, will be incredibly impactful for VHL patients.

VHLA Executive Director Chandra Clark said, “The ability to coordinate free air transportation to our patients that are in need of critical surgeries and treatments is truly life-changing. Our partnership with Angel Flight Northeast will provide an opportunity to better support our broader patient community, especially those that are lacking access to care. We are beyond grateful for this invaluable resource and relationship. “

“We are excited to be forging this new partnership with VHL Alliance so their patients can utilize our free air transportation to easily access the critical medical care and treatment they require,” said Larry Camerlin, President and Founder of Angel Flight Northeast. “Through our partnership with VHLA, we can provide compassion, healing, caring and hope to patients afflicted with this rare disease.”

To learn more about Angel Flight Northeast’s free air transportation service to access life-saving medical care. please call 1-800-549-9980.

About Angel Flight NE
Celebrating its 25^th year of service, Angel Flight NE has helped coordinate free air transportation for patients without financial resources to access life-saving medical care outside of their region. The organization is comprised of over 500 volunteer private pilots who combine their love of flying with the spirit of grassroots volunteerism by flying patients and their families to the critical health care they need. Air transportation is provided in private aircraft by volunteer pilots as well as through partnership with commercial aviation partners so that children and adults may access life-saving medical care free of charge.

About VHL
VHL or von Hippel-Lindau disease is a genetic form of cancer. VHL patients battle a series of tumors throughout their lives. The VHL gene controls the major feeding pipeline of every tumor. Curing VHL is one step closer to curing many other forms of cancer. There are currently 8 drugs being used to effectively treat cancer, mainly kidney cancers, which are direct results of VHL research.

About the VHL Alliance

The VHL Alliance (VHLA) is the preeminent resource and clearinghouse for those affected by von Hippel-Lindau disease, including patients, caregivers, researchers, and the medical community. VHLA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1993, which is dedicated to research, education, and support to improve awareness, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for those affected by VHL. VHLA is the leading funder of VHL research, funding over $2.6 million in grants to support studies designed to find a cure.  The VHL Alliance’s vision is Curing Cancer through VHL