A COMMITTED group of car enthusiasts has made a world of difference to the Royal Flying Doctor Service as part of a charity drive from Adelaide to Western Australia.
The Westbound Wanderers Car Run, which included South East participants, raised $70,000 with the support from generous community members in their drive from the state’s capital to the town of Coolie.
Half of the funds raised have gone towards to RFDS Central Operations and the other to RFDS Western Operations.
Supporting the service for the first time, RFDS Central Operations community fundraising coordinator Kristen Newlyn said they are extremely grateful for the donation.
“The RFDS is still needed 24/7 for members of the community in their time of need, but it cannot continue to save lives without the ongoing support of the community to keep its crews in the sky,” she said.
Saving lives in rural and remote Australia for 90 years and delivering ongoing care to injured and critically ill patients in regional and metropolitan centres, Ms Newlyn said the RFDS has a fleet of 69 aircraft and network of 24 aeromedical bases across the country.
It airlifts more than 100 patients throughout Australia every day.
“RFDS crews perform 25 aeromedical evacuations in South Australia and the Northern Territory every day, either an outback retrieval or the transfer of a patient from one of our country hospitals to one of Adelaide’s major hospitals for live saving surgery or specialist treatment,” Ms Newlyn said.
“The RFDS relies on bequests and donations to meet the shortfall in its operational funding and to finance the replacement of its flying intensive care units at a cost of $7m each.”
