Best wishes to Queensland Pilots – Make A Wish
Three Queensland pilots set out from Caboolture today on a 5,000 km tour of far-flung coastal and hinterland centres to support a truly heart-warming cause.
They’ll be helping raise funds for Make-A-Wish Australia, an organisation of over 1,000 volunteers at 57 Australian branches, dedicated to bringing magic and joy into the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions by granting their most cherished wish.
Pilots Nick Clarke, John Adcock, and Damon Fealy have finalised their route and are hoping for perfect weather to fly the beautiful little Jabiru 170 around the state raising money. The two-seat all composite aircraft, owned by Caboolture Recreational Aviation, will be flown by two pilots with a partial crew change at Cairns due to other commitments.
The flight, organised by Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) will visit 37 different councils including Bundaberg, Woorabinda, Townsville, Hope Vale, Mareeba, Yarrabah, Toowoomba, Wujal Wujal, Emerald, Palm Island and the Gold Coast – a round trip of some 2,700 nautical miles, expected to log about 50 hours flying. In most centres local councils have already organised fund and awareness raising activities in their communities, and pilot accommodation with local community leaders has been offered.
Make-a-Wish provides four “wish categories”: to have (EG a bike, a computer or a BMX bike), to go (somewhere they’ve dreamed about,) to meet (somebody such as a favourite celebrity,) or to be somebody such as a policeman or a nurse.
The concept began in the USA in 1980 with the fulfillment of the first wish for a seven year old boy with Leukaemia named Chris Greicius, who wished to be a policeman. His mother, several friends and a group of police officers granted his wish with a custom-made uniform, helmet, badge and helicopter ride!
The generosity of donors, sponsors and volunteers has won huge community support, and affiliate organisations can now be found in more than 30 countries and territories around the world. In 2008 alone, corporate and community generosity allowed Make-A-Wish Australia to grant 433 wishes. The organisation has granted more than 5600 wishes for Australian children with life-threatening illnesses in the past 24 years.
LISTEN TO AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH JOHN ADCOCK
