Why I'm riding

Giving Back to the Service That Saved My Sister's Life

In country Australia, help can be hundreds of kilometres away. When the unimaginable happens, the Royal Flying Doctor Service is often the difference between tragedy and a second chance. For my family, that isn't someone else's story, it's ours.

In 2023, my younger sister Laura was critically injured in a life-threatening accident and flown to hospital by the RFDS. We were faced with the news no family ever wants to hear. At one point, we were told Laura may never walk or talk again. Thanks to the incredible care she received and her determination throughout rehabilitation, Laura continues to achieve things that once seemed impossible.

Wanting to give back to the service that helped save her life, we started Laura's Army. What began as a small fundraising effort has grown into a wonderful community movement. This October marks our fourth year participating in the RFDS Oceans to Outback challenge, and once again we'll be joined by family, friends, farmers, local businesses and supporters who share our appreciation for the Flying Doctor.

Throughout October, our team will walk, run and ride to raise funds for the RFDS. Every dollar raised helps support the life-saving work they do every day, providing emergency aeromedical retrievals, patient transfers and healthcare services to people living and working in rural and remote Australia.

For our family, this challenge is about more than fundraising. It's about recognising the people who were there when we needed them most and helping ensure that service is available for other country families facing their own emergencies.

Whether you choose to donate, join the team, support one of our fundraising events, donate cattle to our annual RFDS cattle sale, or simply cheer us on from the sidelines, thank you. Every show of support helps us continue giving back to an organisation that means so much to us and so many others across regional Australia.

Together, we're helping keep the Flying Doctor flying for the people who need it most.