Sonia Langlais

2026 -Ride for the Chopper

I'm fundraising for...

Northern NSW 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

Nundle ride

Monday 20th Jul
Fantastic ride to Nundle and back this weekend (with an overnight stay). Great company, great food, and great riding - save for the head wind! Cardio going good, now need to focus on quad strength and endurance… Bike tune up worked wonders - no more chain rub. Just need new pedals, a few tweaks here and there, and off we go again!

Another training ride!

Sunday 12th Jul
36 km today, more hills and a head wind at times. Survived! As they say, what doesn’t kill you… At least it didn’t rain! The prospect thereof was enough to keep some people away it seems - small crowd, but a brave one! 

First official training ride!

Sunday 5th Jul
Met with a few veterans and other newbies of the Ride for a training ride today. Gorgeous day although a bit cold at first. Great ride (50km), great people! I think I’ll survive… More comfortable with the bike, can’t wait for the real thing!

New ride

Friday 26th Jun
Took my new ride for a spin today! All good. 🙂

Thank you to my Sponsors

$140

Sonia Langlais

$106.12

Anonymous

Go for it Sonia!

$106.12

Andrew Watson

Best of luck and enjoy the scenery.

$106.12

Susan Penny

Ride well ( don’t fall off!!)

$54.84

Stuart Harris

Good luck!

$54.84

Hae Won Jo

Best of luck!

$54.84

Michael Bastick

Best wishes

$54.84

Sarah Cudmore

Go Sonia !

$28.43

Ashleigh Parsons

Good on you!!