A dedicated group of local volunteers has raised $20,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), representing their fundraising efforts with the support of the Fleurieu community over the past year.
“The Flying Doctor airlifts 15 patients in South Australia every day, either a retrieval from the outback or the transfer of a patient from a country hospital to an Adelaide hospital for life-saving surgery or specialist treatment,” says Jenny Buscombe, President of the RFDS Fleurieu Support Group.
Since last year’s donation the RFDS has introduced to operational service the RFDS Medi-Jet 24, South Australia’s first purpose-built aeromedical jet. The $13 million aircraft was funded solely by bequests, sponsorships and donations from the community.
“We feel very humbled to have played our part with others in raising the funds for the RFDS to purchase the ultimate ‘flying intensive care unit’, capable of slashing total mission times of long-haul patient evacuations from the outback or interstate to specialist medical care,” Mrs Buscombe says.
“I extend my sincere thanks to every member of the RFDS Fleurieu Support Group for their hard work and commitment, and to our local community for their on-going support of our fundraising activities. So much can be achieved when people work together for a common goal,” she says.
Mrs Buscombe presented a $20,000 donation to Lindy Allchurch, Volunteer Coordinator of RFDS Central Operations, at a special dinner on Wednesday 20 November.
“This year’s donation takes the group’s total contribution to the Flying Doctor to more than $270,000 since it began fundraising in 2004, which is a remarkable achievement,” Ms Allchurch says.
“The latest donation, like those before, will be used to help meet the shortfall in our operational funding and to finance our capital-raising program for the purchase of our ‘flying intensive care units’ – the next to arrive late this year,” Ms Allchurch says.
“On behalf of everyone at RFDS – and the thousands of South Australians we airlift every year – we offer our heartfelt thanks for your hard work and service to your local community,” Ms Allchurch said.
Enquiries to get involved with RFDS Fleurieu Support Group are always welcome.
Contact the RFDS Fleurieu Support Group President Jenny Buscombe on 0418 824 594.
