November 7, 2025 by Natalie Moore—
This story is part of our annual Capital Region Gives Back initiative that honors 10 locals who are making our community a better place. Read up on all of the 2025 honorees and join us on December 2 for the 7th annual Capital Region Gives Back event at Putnam Place.
When Francesca LoPorto-Brandow’s father was battling cancer, her family put nearly 16,000 miles on their car driving to and from treatment.
“During that time, I couldn’t help but think, what do people do when they don’t have someone to drive them?” she says. “Do they give up? Do they just make do with what they have and not see a specialist? I couldn’t imagine not being able to not seek care at a time when you really need it the most.”
So, LoPorto-Brandow, a cancer survivor herself, took matters into her own hands. She spoke with local travel service Yankee Trails about running a bus a few days a week specifically for Capital Regionites seeking medical appointments with specialists in larger metropolitan areas. And with that, the Flutter Express was born.
The Flutter Express tour bus makes trips to New York City and Boston every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday that there’s a need, departing from Rensselaer and stopping in Albany (and Catskill, for NYC trips) on the way. Tickets are $79 for healthcare seekers, and $85 for companions. That’s cheaper than taking any other mode of transportation, but LoPorto-Brandow found that there was still a financial barrier for some people. To help cover the costs, she partnered with other nonprofits, including the NYOH Community Cancer Foundation, which will pay for patients to take the Flutter Express. But those organizations specifically cover patients seeking treatment for cancer. For everyone else—individuals in need of an organ transplant, or the 18-month-old sister of two brothers that are receiving ongoing adrenal cancer care—there’s Flutter Club.
In addition to covering the cost of rides for both patients and companions, Flutter Club also provides Flutter Express passengers with curated care packages full of healthcare journey essentials like a pill case, travel pillow, and treatment hoodie (the arms zip open), as well as a host: LoPorto-Brandow and other volunteers actually ride the bus with the passengers.
“This isn’t just a bus,” LoPorto-Brandow says. “This is a service—it’s an experience. There’s a host that people can talk to that’s going to make sure you have what you need on your journey.”
Flutter Club President & Volunteer Francesca LoPorto-Brandow featured as “do-gooder” in Capital Region & Saratoga Living Magazines
Photography by Megan Mumford
Flutter Club President & Volunteer Francesca LoPorto-Brandow and Dance Partner Yurii Kolodieiev Featured on WNYT NewsChannel 13
October 20th, 2025— Flutter Club, inc. President & Volunteer and Flutter Express Founder, Francesca LoPorto-Brandow, along with her dance partner from Fred Astaire Saratoga, Yurii Kolodieiev, were featured on WNYT NewsChannel 13’s third hour!
Watch their full 6-minute interview to learn more about The Flutter Express and Flutter Club, inc.
You can still support their Dancing with the Capital Region Stars campaign—100% of what they raise goes directly to Flutter Club!
Donate here:
https://myevent.com/dancin.../participants/francescaandyurii
Or give/sponsor Flutter Club directly at:
https://www.flutterclub.com/get-involved
A special thank you to Chris Onorato and Caitlin Irla for helping raise awareness about Flutter Club and The Flutter Express!
New Nonprofit, Flutter Club, inc., Launches to Ease the Burden of Travel for People of All Ages and Families on the Road to Hope
Abany, NY — May 20, 2025— Flutter Club, inc., a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York’s Capital Region, is proud to announce its official launch and mission to support people of all ages and their families navigating the challenges of healthcare travel. By providing financial assistance and comfort-based support, Flutter Club helps those seeking a second medical opinion, and navigating critical illnesses, developmental disabilities, and reproductive health & fertility access world-renowned medical care in Boston and New York City via The Flutter Express, a mission-driven transportation service.
Flutter Club, inc. was founded on a powerful belief: No one should face their healthcare journey alone or without a way to get to the care they need. With that ethos, the organization is creating tangible access to care—covering transportation costs for people of all ages, caregivers, and immediate family members, and delivering curated care packages to bring warmth and comfort along the way.
“So many families are forced to choose between the care they need and the means to get there,” says Francesca LoPorto-Brandow, President & Volunteer of Flutter Club, inc. “We’re here to change that, one ride at a time.”
Through partnerships with medical institutions, community nonprofits, donors, and compassionate volunteers, Flutter Club helps bridge the transportation gap for people needing to reach leading healthcare destinations in New York City and Boston. Whether it’s cancer treatment, fertility preservation, cardiac care, or developmental evaluations, Flutter Club makes the journey more accessible, affordable, and supported.
What Flutter Club Offers:
Financial Assistance for roundtrip travel on The Flutter Express for qualifying individuals and their companions, caregivers, or immediate family members
Care Packages curated to bring comfort during challenging healthcare journeys
Volunteer Opportunities to give back and support the mission
Corporate and Community Partnerships to extend impact and reach
Flutter Club, inc. is now actively fundraising and welcoming sponsors, volunteers, and partner organizations to join its growing movement of purpose-driven access and care.
To learn more or get involved, please visit www.flutterclub.com.
About Flutter Club, inc.
Flutter Club, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides financial travel support and care packages to people of all ages seeking a second medical opinion or navigating critical illnesses, developmental disabilities, and reproductive health & fertility—helping them and their loved ones access locations that are home to world-renowned medical care. In collaboration with The Flutter Express, Flutter Club is transforming the healthcare journey with compassion, purpose, and community support. Together with Purpose.
