Steve Wood has been involved in charitable causes involving aviation, and flying for the disabled in particular, for many years.
Firstly in 1991 he set up Heli-Aid to pressure the UK government and ambulance services into establishing a widespread HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) system throughout the UK. The background support of HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duke of Gloucester, and a presentation at the ambulance service convention resulted in the development of HEMS operations in most ambulance service areas - a great success!
In 1998 GreenHawk Trust was established, personally financed and organized by Steve, as a UK Charitable Trust with the aim of providing free Young Eagles flights to disabled, disadvantaged and life limited children. This opened doors to some interesting events and well over 1000 children were flown in the three years before Steve (and 'GOOFY') went to live half the year in Florida. Even now the flights continue, for example at the RAF Cosford air show preview day on 10 June 2005 when Polly Vacher, the record setting aviatrix, joined in flying special needs children from Penn Hall School, Wolverhampton in a fun filled day. Steve is now fully supporting Polly Vacher's passion of Flying Scholarships for the Disabled and its Royal International Air Tatto links.
Steve also founded EAA Chapter 1168 in the UK and was President for the first two years. More recently he has been Young Eagles coordinator of EAA Chapter 288 at Daytona Beach, FL since 2002.
Steve’s ‘Four Corners’ Flights America have all supported Flying for the Disabled.
Flying Scholarships for the Disabled - established in the UK to honour the disabled WWII fighter ace Sir Douglas Bader
Able Flight - carrying on the work of FSD in the USA
Young Eagles - the record setting international programme of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)