Why we are fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

On Saturday, 1 November 2025, Matthew was preparing to run an exercise for the Esperance Airport and the combined emergency management community of Esperance WA.  Arriving at the airport he cautiously asked the St John Ambulance team to "just check him out".  

Quickly the exercise was cancelled and Matthew became the centre of attention.  The St John crew identified likely appendicitis and Matthew was urgently transported to Esperance Hospital.  Under the care of the emergency department he was diagnosed with ruptured appendix, with the rupture so severe, the appendix had completely detached.

With Matthew's condition deteriorating the decision was made to have the RFDS fly him to Perth for emergency surgery.  At the same time the amazing Esperance medical team prepared to perform lifesaving surgery if the plane couldn't get there on time.

Fortunately, an aircraft became available and Matthew was airlifted to Jandakot where he was transported to Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Our joint target distance represents each of us cycling the 583km distance flown by the RFDS aircraft from Esperance to Perth to save Matthew's life.

While Matthew is the CEO of the Aerial Application Association of Australia, we are usually city (well Canberra) based people.  We had never considered the RFDS would become such an intricate part of our life story, but this has brought home to us just how precious the RFDS can be for every Australian.

Please help us to keep the RFDS in the sky.