Yes Saladin, how sad to see the Royal Flying Doctor Service having to rely on fundraising to maintain services to the bush.
'Retrieval Run' to help to keep RFDS in the skies
Posted May 12, 2011 08:02:00
A group of visiting medical students, has vowed to give back to the far west by raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Ed Irving, Hilary von Maltzhan and Cameron Spencely will run the 115 kilometres from Menindee to Broken Hill on a 'Retrieval Run' to raise $10,000 for the Service.
Mr Irving, says the RFDS relies on fundraising to continue its work in remote communities.
"It's essentially the only form of primary care for a lot of small communities.
"It doesn't really matter where it goes to I think it's all about just keeping the RFDS flying, keeping this service going because it needs money to continue to be able to provide GP services, retrieval services, emergency care for people in these regional and remote areas," he said.
Ms von Maltzhan, says they hope the 'Retrieval Run' will inspire other medical students.
"A big part of what we're also doing is trying to get our students, back at our home universities involved and aware.
"Quite a few of them have no experience with the RFDS and we've been really lucky to have that experience here," she said.
"Telling them what's happening, what we're doing and also what the RFDS does as well as for our own benefit.
"We've had so many great experiences through the RFDS here that no one else really has shared."
The runners will set out on the 18th of June and they hope to complete the run in 11 hours.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/12/3214503.htm?site=brokenhill How sad to think we turn our backs on the fine medical services provided by the RFDS. I want my taxes to go to the RFDS.