Mark Richardson

2025 -Ride for the Chopper

I'm fundraising for...

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service which changes outcomes in our community every day.

I am participating in the Ride for the Chopper to support the important lifesaving work of the Rescue Helicopter Service on call to our community 24/7, 365 days a year.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is a flying intensive care unit.  The AW139 Helicopter has a Pilot with a minimum of 15 years flying experience; a Crewman, a SCAT trained Paramedic and a Doctor.  

Surgeries can be performed from the helicopter as well as blood transfusions.  It has the capacity to carry 2 patients or 2 Neonatal Cots. Not only does the Rescue Helicopter attend accidents it also transfers critical patients to larger hospitals for specialist treatment plus conducts Search and Rescue missions. 

The AW139s cost $1,000 per hour in fuel, $1,000 per hour to run the engine, $1,500 for the airframe and for $500 avionics, that’s a total of $4,000 per hour.

It costs about $40 million a year to keep the helicopters and crews ready to respond when needed.

Please give generously and share my page with your friends, family and colleagues. Thank you for supporting Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.  

My Achievements

Donate to Self

Shared Fundraising Page

First Donation

First Blog or Log

Reached Fundraising Target

$100 - Helipad Hero

$250 - Lift Off Legend

$500 - Blue Sky Dreamer

$1,000 - Airborne Angel

$2,500 - High Flyer

My Updates

Helicopter retrieval

Friday 27th Jun
Since being a rural nurse there are times when we see the choppers daily retrieving sick patients our little rural hospitals can't help, in emergency situations they save patients from hours of time on the road in an ambulance and get the help they need hours sooner. This has and will continue to save lives, believe me I have witnessed this first hand many many times. Even if you live in the big city with the big hospitals one day you may be out for a drive in the country or hiking a hill and these guys are going to be there when things go wrong. Please help support this great ESSENTIAL service for every Australian

Thank you to my Sponsors

$27.81

Barb

Hope you reach your goal