$100,000 LIFELINE STILL NEEDED FOR CHOPPER’S APPEAL TARGET
June 29, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
$100,000 LIFELINE STILL NEEDED FOR CHOPPER’S APPEAL TARGET
Central Queenslanders are being reminded to show their support for the region’s rescue helicopter annual appeal to help keep crews up in the air and saving lives.
As the 2023 RACQ CQ Rescue Annual Appeal enters its second month, there is still $100,000 left to raise to reach the chopper’s fundraising goal set for 2023.
About half of the service’s $11.5 million operating expenses came from community donations, payroll deductions and sponsorship, which was why the annual appeal was so important, RACQ CQ Rescue CEO Tim Healee said.
To the end of June, RACQ CQ Rescue had already clocked up close to 370 missions completed, the most frequented destinations being Proserpine and Moranbah.
The annual appeal is the major fundraiser for the Mackay-based rescue helicopter service which celebrates 27 years of saving lives and the impressive milestone of 11,500 missions in 2023.
2022 was the service’s second busiest year on record with 636 missions completed. With mission numbers increasing every year, there was a never a greater need for the life-saving service in the region or a better reason to support it, he said.
“Each year we have to raise about $5 million on top of government funding to keep the helicopter and crew available 24/7, 365 days a year and saving lives across Central Queensland,” Mr Healee said.
“We just can’t do this without ongoing community support.
“Donations are imperative now given our undertaking to upgrade the rescue helicopters next year which will improve our speed, range, performance and ultimately, the level of care this service delivers to patients in the region. That will be life-changing for hundreds of people every year,” he said.
Ongoing community support was fundamental to ensuring the longevity of the service in the region and delivering the most advanced and best-equipped emergency aircraft.
“It’s a huge job but this is a not-for-profit service which is absolutely critical to the sick and injured within our community. When every second counts, where would they be without RACQ CQ Rescue?” Mr Healee said.
Donations to the RACQ CQ Rescue Annual Appeal are tax deductible and can be made at www.cqrescue.org.au/donate or by phoning the office on 4998 5232.
Donations to CQ Rescue can also be made at the RACQ Caneland Central office from Monday July 3 to Friday, July 7. Donations of $20 or more made during this time will receive a Huey the Helicopter plush toy.
RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crew officer Arno Schoonwinkel with a Huey the Helicopter plush toy. A Huey is being given away at the RACQ office at Caneland Central between July 3 and July 7 when a $20 or more donation is made to the 2023 CQ Rescue Annual Appeal.
Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.
For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182