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Monica Bailey

2023 - Base to Base

My Activity Tracking

11
kms

My target 50 kms

I am fundraising for

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service! I’m taking part in the Base to Base Challenge this October to raise funds for this worthwhile charity. 

I’ve got one full month to complete my mission on foot, whilst the Rescue Helicopter will be completing approximately 120 missions by air. 

While I won’t come close to the Rescue Helicopter’s maximum speed of 310km/h, I will be doing my part to help save lives across Northern NSW.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter provides urgent aeromedical assistance to over 1.5 million people, from Pre-Hospital Emergencies such as motor vehicle, farming and industrial accidents to Inter-Hospital Transfers of critically ill or injured.  As a flying intensive care unit, the crew is able to stabilise patients on the scene or in the air before safely and rapidly delivering them to the most appropriate hospital.

All funds raised on my mission this October will help keep the Rescue Helicopters ready to respond to those who need it most so please make a donation and support my Base to Base mission.

Thank you for your support.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$75

My Goal

$300

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$80
$115
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My Achievements

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First Donation

$50 Raised

Halfway to Kilometre Target

Fundraising Goal Achieved

Kilometre Target Reached

My Updates

Rescue Club

Sunday 22nd Oct
Today we went to the Rescue Club in Tamworth like we do when it runs every 4 years. We will never be able to repay the service

My Why

Saturday 2nd Sep
August 1 2014. My sister's birthday. A day of surgery and travel but also the day that could have changed our lives forever!!

I got the phone call I have always dreaded. "There's been an accident. The kids are fine but hubby is critical but stable. He is being flown to Tamworth." 

Panic!! Absolute panic!! I had my eldest in surgery in Moree with my youngest and my Dad with me. I was told the other 2 children were going to Armidale but they are fine. 

I felt so sick, I couldn't breathe and for the first time in my life, I saw my Dad cry for something other than his illness. I knew this was serious. I also had to ring my sister and tell her we weren't going to make it to Newcastle for her birthday. Instead, she turned around and said "we are on our way."

I then had the task of convincing doctors and nurses in Moree we needed to go. My husband is being flown to Tamworth and may not survive. They thought I was just coming back to Inverell and they weren't going to release my eldest after having his adenoids out. 

After what felt like forever trying to convince these amazing people "I'm not going home, I'm going to Tamworth. I'm staying with my Aunt who lives 2 mins from Tamworth Hospital" the penny dropped and we were express discharged ready to take on the journey from Moree to Tamworth.

My next problem, I had 2 children in Armidale hospital and had to get them to Tamworth. Luckily I rang my mum, who could have been anywhere between here and the coast, she was in Armidale. Another sigh of relief! Grandma could pick up her grandbabies and get them safely to where I needed them. 

And then there was our dog, who was also travelling in the car. Luckily Andrew had called to ask how the dog harness worked with the seatbelt and her life was saved as well. She was safe with one of Mum's friends.

Yielding phone calls for my whole trip from Moree to Tamworth was exhausting. Immediate family, hospital, Armidale Police Inspector, who let me save his phone number incase I needed anything, friends. I also had to call his boss at work and tell her "I don't know how bad it is but it's not good." She tells me "don't worry about work, worry about him. Keep me updated." 

Getting to Tamworth, I held my my other babies so close. I couldn't imagine what they had just been through. I sent them with Mum to my Aunt's place and made the journey of not knowing what to expect into Emergency. 

There he was, alive!! Talking!! Heavily concussed with lacerations all over his body, a mangled right leg but most importantly ALIVE!!

My sister arrived from Newcastle and all he could say on repeat is, "Donna, I don't think we will make to yours" and "are the kids ok?"

It was a long night of scans and surgery, fielding phone calls and shock setting in. 11:30pm the call came he was out of surgery and all is fine. He's in good hands. See you tomorrow. 

He died twice that day. Brought back to life by the emergency services and his life was saved due to the fact we have the most amazing service in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Without them, life would be so different.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$50

Robyn Warnock

Go Mon

$25.32

Jillian Xx

Sending love to an awesome family xxx

Our Team