My story
Thank you for visiting my website.
I'm Fernando, a theatre professional turned pilot, travel storyteller and volunteer.
I fly people who need a day away from their hardships, I help children with cancer access treatment, and I make travel content through Fernando's Logbook.
What connects all of it? I genuinely believe that new horizons, whether that's a view from above the clouds or a destination you've never imagined, can give people hope and remind them what's possible.
On my birthday in 2004, my little brother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer. He was 11.
That's when I learned something I couldn't unknow: all over the world, children with cancer never even get a chance at treatment. Not because it doesn't exist, but because they can't get to it. No transport. No money.
My brother recovered.
But I couldn't shake the sadness of knowing that other children were dying simply because of where they were born.
That felt deeply unfair. Most people think about hospitals when they think about cancer treatment.
But for millions of children, the hospital was never the problem. Getting there was.
For years, I worked in the world I loved: theatre. Those years were like a gift to me. Every night, helping people escape their world for a few hours and experience the power of sharing something together.
I worked in some extraordinary places, from the Royal Ballet and Opera to the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican Centre. I even opened and managed a new regional theatre in my hometown.
But the image of those children stayed with me.
So, in 2015, I founded a small charity called Please Take Me There. It's run by just three volunteers, myself included.
We've helped thousands of children in Myanmar get to the hospital for treatment, and every month we offer travel support to families living in extreme poverty and in war-affected zones.
Like a lot of boys who grew up in the 80s, I dreamed of becoming a pilot. At 18, I started training, but life got in the way before I could finish.
In 2017, with my wife's full support, I went back and earned my wings. Twenty years after my first attempt.
Not long after, I started offering free flights to children with cancer and their families. A day away from treatment. A different view of the world. From up there, the things that feel impossible on the ground start to look a little smaller. I've seen it change something in people, even just for an afternoon.
Today, I fly people going through challenging times. Sometimes it's financial hardship or loneliness. Sometimes it's an illness.
My wife and two daughters are my everything. They changed my world, and they make everything else possible.
I produce podcasts and travel content through Fernando's Logbook, exploring the power of travel and how it can inspire and help people.
I would love to chat with you!
You can reach me via email or the social media channels listed below.
To ask me for a free flight, please visitthis page.
A few things worth watching
A few things worth watching
If you'd like to understand more about the work, BBC News and NBC's Today Show have both covered it
BBC News
NBC’s Today Show