A University of Queensland Professor will fly in to 42 rural and remote areas of Queensland next month on a 17-day mission to support Angel Flight.
UQ second language studies Professor Mike Levy and fellow pilot Nick Clarke will fly 10,000 kilometres in a Foxbat light aircraft with the aim of raising $50,000 for the charity.
“Angel Flight provides an amazing service,” Professor Levy said.
“A recent flight assisted a four-year-old suffering from hydrocephalus (water on the brain) from a property near Taroom in Queensland.
“For that little boy, an Angel Flight replaced what would have been 10-hour return drive to the Mater Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.”
Professor Levy and Mr Clarke hope to increase awareness of Angel Flight services for patients, carers and families in rural and remote Australia.
Professor Levy said access to major hospitals and treatment centres was an enormous challenge for many Australians living in rural or remote areas.
“Both Nick and I are trained pilots, and we will share the 10,000 km flying duties swapping between pilot and navigator,” he said.
Both will donate weeks of their time to the cause, using a mix of annual and unpaid leave to complete the project.
“The more Nick and I learned about the positive impact Angel Flight has on those living in remote areas, the more committed we became,” he said.
“I was touched by the generosity of pilots across Australia who donate their time and planes to the cause.
“What really motivates me to take part in this trip is thinking about what sick men, women and children have to endure by living in remote communities and dealing with travelling long distances to major centres.
“When you’re not feeling well, travelling for hours is the last thing you want to do.
“Many of the patients don’t have enough money to travel and pay for accommodation.
“Angel flight helps with the emotional side of things too, it helps to keep families together.
Professor Levy said 100% of money donated to Angel Flight went directly towards operating costs.
Angel Flight operates a national support centre in Brisbane, with six full-time paid coordinators.
“Hopefully, we can make a real difference, not only in raising money to support Angel Flight but also in building awareness in the communities that Angel Flight is there to help,” Professor Levy said.
“Each stop we make represents a different regional council. Each council is organising its own fund-raising to coincide with our trip.”
A Facebook page will be updated daily for those wanting to follow the 17-day flight.
The pair will leave on Monday 12 August and return to Caboolture on Wednesday 28 August.
Media: Carolyn Varley, +617 3365 1120 or 0413 601 248, c.varley@uq.edu.au.
Route and Dates
1) Caboolture- August 12
2) Toowoomba- August 12
3) Warwick- August 12
4) Goondiwindi- August 12
5) St George- August 13
6) Roma- August 13
7) Charleville- August 13
8) Cunnamulla- August 14
9) Thargomindah- August 14
10) Quilpie- August 14
11) Windorah- August 15
12) Blackall- August 15
13) Barcaldine- August 15
14) Longreach- August 15/16
15) Prairie Races- August 17
16) Hughenden- August 17
17) Cloncurry- August 18
18) Burketown- August 18
19) Normanton- August 18
20) Croydon- August 19
21) Georgetown- August 19
22) Mareeba- August 19
23) Cooktown- August 20
24) Cairns- August 20/21
25) Tully- August 22
26) Ingham- August 22
27) Townsville- August 22
28) Charters Towers- August 23
29) Ayr- August 23
30) Shute Harbour- August 23
31) Hamilton Island- August 24
32) Mackay- August 24
33) Moranbah- August 24
34) Emerald- August 24
35) Woorabinda- August 25
36) Gladstone- August 25
37) Bundaberg- August 25/26
38) Hervey Bay- August 27
39) Gayndah- August 27
40) Kingaroy- August 27
41) Dalby- August 27
42) Boonah- August 28
43) Brisbane- August 28
44) Dunwich- August 28
