For a patient in Presque Isle, travel time and cost of accommodations may be prohibitive to get medical treatment in Massachusetts.

Angel Flight Northeast can remove these obstacles by providing free air flight to and from life-saving treatments.

“The biggest problem we have is that people don’t believe it’s free,” said Barbara Sica, spokeswoman for Angel Flight Northeast, which is based out of North Andover, Mass.

Another issue is funding. Sica said donations are slowing in the down economy and some corporate sponsors have also felt the pinch and cut back or ended financial support. She said the support of the community is needed to continue the free flights and transportation services for patients in need.

Angel Flight Northeast provides air transportation primarily throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania for people seeking medical treatment. Those who use the service must be able to get in and out of a general aviation plane.

The service is also made possible through the generosity of pilots like Ed Gallagher of Saco, a commercial pilot who donates his time and fuel to fly patients from Maine. Gallagher, who works during the day at his family’s business, Gallagher Refrigeration, said when he does a volunteer flight, it’s typically in the evening, flying someone back to Maine ”“ often to the northern end of the state ”“ from Massachusetts.

Gallagher and a friend own a four-seater Piper Arrow, which is kept at the Biddeford Municipal Airport, and Gallagher said the plane has been on more than 50 flights for Angel Flight Northeast.

Gallagher said patients generally come with one support person, such as a friend or relative, and a child may come with both parents. He said he usually invites a friend along to keep him company on the way back.

The people whom he’s flown have been very grateful, said Gallagher, and he’s received cards from a few of his passengers. Also, “I’ve been thanked in flight by air traffic control.”

Gallagher said he has flown patients of all ages. The oldest were two women from Frenchville in their 80s: A woman getting treatment in Massachusetts and her sister, who was along for support. The two had never flown before their trip with Angel Flight Northeast, “But they absolutely loved it, they were great passengers,” he said.

Pilots don’t ask about the riders’ ailments, and Gallagher said about a quarter of his passengers don’t say why they need the ride.

Gallagher said he’s met a lot of great people and admires their strength.

“I enjoy helping people,” said Gallagher. “I get a lot out of it, that’s for sure; it’s a good feeling to be able to do that.”

Angel Flight Northeast also has “Earth Angels” who provide ground transportation from airports to hospitals.

The volunteers, said Sica, “are just phenomenal.”

Illness and conditions that patients are suffering from include cancer, life-threatening burns, birth defects, epilepsy and heart disease, according to information from the organization’s website. About 50 percent of the patients are children, generally suffering from severe burns or cancer.

Sica said their patients need to focus on getting better, rather than worrying about transportation, hotel accommodations or driving after treatment.

She said the patients “can’t thank us enough,” and some have said they would have given up with out Angel Flight Northeast.

Angel Flight Northeast has provided free flights for 17 years for patients in the Northeast. Sica said, on average, Angel Flight Northeast schedules between 80 and 100 flights a week, and in 2012, the organization scheduled 1,500 flights for Maine residents.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.angeflightne.org. Anyone in need of service can call the office at 978-794-6868 and speak with mission coordination. Mission coordinators are available 24 hours a day, said Sica.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.