Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter have launched their Annual Appeal which will run during Helicopter Awareness Week, August 20 to 27.
From August 22, specially marked donation envelopes will arrive in over 170,000 letterboxes throughout the Service’s flight region.
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter General Manager Kris Beavis said the Service is hoping to raise over $150,000.
“The Service relies on the business and community sector for over 60 per cent of its $6.5 million operating budget and this is our major fundraiser for the year,” he said.
“We are appealing to our supportive community to once again donate to help us continue to save lives.”
Featured on this year’s Appeal envelope is the story of seven-year-old Lismore girl Briar-Rose.
In January this year, Briar-Rose fell while jumping on an exercise ball, breaking a bone in her neck. She was airlifted by the Rescue Helicopter to Brisbane for specialist care.
Her mother, Alison, said she had never given much thought to the Rescue Helicopter despite living close to the Helibase and often hearing it fly over.
“You think it could never happen to you,” Alison said.
“But it can. We would like to thank the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter not only for the outstanding care we received, but for all the lives saved by this important service.”
Helicopter Awareness Week kicks off on Saturday, August 20 when the community is invited to the Helibase to get up close to the Helicopter and meet the pilots and crew.
The day runs from 9am to 1pm and there will be activities for all the family, including the chance to try out the rescue winch, meet Pilot Kev and see other emergency services on display.
As part of their demonstration, the SES will be demonstrating the Jaws of Life, chopping up three cars.
During the week the Service’s pilots and crew will be out and about doing school visits and visiting the Lismore Base Hospital.
Aircrew chief Roger Fry will be taking along his interactive box of tricks that involves kids being part of a makeshift helicopter – always a popular activity and very realistic.
Local pubs in the flight region will be holding bucket collections during the week. And on Saturday, August 27 there will be a bucket collection at shopping centres across the region.
