My story and why I'm fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

I’m a mother of two and the wife of a FIFO worker who works on a mine site approximately 200km from Kalgoorlie.

I remember the day vividly when I received the call telling me my husband had been involved in an accident onsite. I was home alone with our three-year-old daughter, and panic immediately set in.

All I knew at the time was that he had been struck by a chain that had given way, causing an injury to his jaw and significant pain in his chest. Being so far from home and knowing I couldn’t simply get in the car and be there with him was terrifying.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service played a vital role in getting my husband from the mine site to Kalgoorlie so he could receive the urgent medical care he needed. Without their service, I honestly don’t know how he would have been transported to hospital, or what other options would have been available to him.

That experience has stayed with me. It made me realise just how important the Royal Flying Doctor Service is, particularly for FIFO workers, their families and people living and working in remote areas.

It’s a big part of why I’ve chosen to push myself this year and take part in this incredible cause. I know firsthand that one day, it could be your loved one who needs the RFDS — and when that day comes, you want them to be there.

Australia is a big country, and for those living in remote, rural and regional areas, access to immediate care isn’t a guarantee. For some communities, the nearest hospital is eight hours drive away.

This October, I’m taking on a month-long fitness challenge to help more people access the care they need. By going further, I hope to raise as much as possible for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

Every year, the RFDS reach more than 330,000 Australians with 24-hour emergency retrieval and primary healthcare services. That’s one person every two minutes!

Together, we can keep the Flying Doctor flying and continue their life-saving work. Please donate to my challenge today!