This year’s Oceans to Outback has commenced with thousands of people across New South Wales participating in the annual challenge to raise vital funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
The annual fundraiser is held throughout the month of October, where participants have the opportunity to walk, run or bike. Now in its third year, the national fitness challenge invites people from across the country to walk, run or cycle over 31 days, all to raise funds and help the Flying Doctor continue delivering lifesaving care.
Great for all fitness levels and ages, people have the option of participating in a variety of distances, including the 42km, 79km or 94km challenge, or they can nominate their own.
Last year, approximately 16,000 people across the country logged over 1 million kilometres of activity and raised more than $3.5 million for Australia’s most reputable charity. It is our hope that with everyone’s ongoing support those figures can be smashed in 2024!
This year, a dedicated group of medical students from Charles Sturt University's School of Rural Medicine have registered to participate under the team name 'The McDreamy’s'.
As the country's future cohort of rural doctors they know just how important the RFDS is. Read their story below.
1. Why did you decide to register a team for O2O? What motivated you to join?
The McDreamy’s are a group of medical students from Charles Sturt University School of Rural Medicine. We decided to register to support our rural mentors, and because the Royal Flying Doctor motivates us to provide healthcare to rural Australians. As future rural doctors we understand the importance of the RFDS in improving access to healthcare and we wanted to support this in any way we could.
2. Do you regularly walk/run/ride?
Outside of this challenge, some of us regularly swim, run and ride, but for some of us we could definitely do a bit more of this during the year! This challenge has been a great motivator with exams coming up to get us walking outside in the sunshine.
3. What channels do you use to let people know you are doing this fundraiser?
Our team has made multiple fundraiser pages on Facebook as well as posting regular stories to our Instagram pages! Some have even made posters to share around their hometowns. We also are featuring in the upcoming School of Rural Medicine newsletter run by the amazing staff at our University.
4. How do you ask people to donate?
We demand! Kidding, We inform our friends/family and followers about how the RFDS provides care to rural Australians. Our support has come from people who support us as future doctors, and we love every single one of our donators.
5. Do you have some tips for anyone starting a team and trying to fundraise?
Start a team with friends or family, or even your work colleagues! We are all those things to each other, so starting our team to fundraise for the RFDS was a no brainer! Biggest tip: HAVE FUN DOING IT! We have definitely surprised ourselves with how much we have raised and would recommend everyone to give this challenge a go!
6. Can you share a memorable story from your experience? Or What is your favourite part about participating?
On one walk we had an unfortunate misstep when one of our team members fell into the lake. Luckily, our team had running shoes and ran back to our dorms to get towels! Another story is of two members who went on a walk and were chased by cows. Another team member had to swoop in to save them by giving them a lift back to campus in her car.
7. How will you celebrate at the end of the challenge?
We finish exams around the same time our challenge finishes, so probably with a pub feed.
8. What is the most rewarding part of the entire fundraising experience for you?
Walking with each other every day. Definitely spending time with each other on a nice walk outside! It’s so easy to get caught up with studies, so this has been a great experience to get us outside and together. It has also been really exciting to see how much we have raised and the difference we are making for the RFDS.
9. Do you know anyone that has used the Royal Flying Doctor?
Not personally, but we know a couple of the doctors who we have met on placements who work with the RFDS! A few of us are also very passionate about working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the future.
10. Where are you located?
Our team is based in Orange, New South Wales as that is where we are currently studying! However, our team members are from all regions of the state, including Swan Hill, Tumblong, Wagga Wagga, Oberon, Sydney, Glenorie and all the way up to Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay!
