Humanitarian missions make Watsonville pilots angels

The Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust presented Watsonville-based Angel Flight members with an award for charitable service. Back row, from left: Hugh Seagraves, William Scherer, Joe Shelton, Ken Adelman, Mike Pelstring, Phoenix Pelstring as well as Rayvon Williams. Front: Marty Jackson as well as Gabrielle Adelman. (Contributed photo by Dan Dawson)WATSONVILLE -- Ken as well as Gabrielle Adelman had ferried the immature studious from Stanford Medical Center to Crescent City when they met the male preparing to have the drive down to Palo Alto to be with his ill daughter.They invited him to fly back with them instead. A few hours later, the man's daughter died in his arms. If they hadn't been means to give him the ride, he would have been in his car, missing those final moments with his child."That's the single we'll remember," pronounced Gabrielle Adelman, talking about the some-more than 50 Angel Flight missions the integrate has flown in the final eight years.Angel Flight is the national organization that provides free flights to the sick, returning soldiers as well as others with special needs. About the dozen Watsonville pilots or their family members go to Angel Flight West, the regional chapter. The group was recently respected by the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust as well as the city of Watsonville for its charitable service.Because the Adelmans fly the small jet, they've been means to fly people to destinations across the country. They helped evacuate the little from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, for example.But most of the local pilots fly single-engine, four-seater planes, as well as lift out their missions inside of California. Pilots donate some-more than their time. They pay all their own expenses, together with fuel.Scotts Valley commander Rayvon Williams assimilated the organization in 2002, as well as flew his 100th mission the week ago, giving the Fresno male the lift to Oakland for chemotherapy. In reduction time than it would have taken for the male to go by car, he was means to transport to as well as from the sanatorium as well as finish his therapy.Willams pronounced after flying for recreation, Angel Flight gives him the event to take "something suggestive to me as well as have it suggestive to others.As he returned to Watsonville after dropping the male off in Fresno, Williams pronounced he enjoyed the nightfall over the Monterey Bay."It's the possibility at the end of the day, as the object is setting, to contend I made the difference in someone's life,'" he said.