Retrieval run - Medical students raising money for the RFDS

Ed Irving (L) and Cameron Spenceley with RFDS plane

Third year medical students Edward Irving and Cameron Spenceley, along with fellow medical student Hilary Von Maltzahn from the University of Adelaide, are undertaking a 115 kilometre relay run to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The students will each run alternate legs non-stop from the remote community of Menindee to the RFDS base at Broken Hill on 18 June 2011. In place of a baton, they will carry a small medical kit along the way to remind everyone of the life saving nature of the RFDS retrieval missions. They hope to raise $10,000.

Ed, currently in Broken Hill as part of the extended clinical placement program, says, "During my time here, I've been exposed to some fantastic experiences, both medical and non-medical. A highlight for me has been the chance to see the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in operation and to participate in its vital work in this remote part of the country.

"We hope to complete the run in less than 12 hours. That's way slower than a retrieval aircraft can make the trip, but it reminds us all that many patients in this part of the country would face even longer delays getting to hospital if it were not for the RFDS."

You can support their run at www.everydayhero.com.au/retrieval_run