Women Pilots Relay - an Amazing Way to Raise Awareness and Funds for Cancer Research

I'm very excited about getting involved in this, and will be at the AWPA event in Launceston to see the baton arrive. AvPlan EFB has kindly donated an iPad loaded with a full IFR/Georeference version of AvPlan, which will join the ladies on the trip around Australia.

If you're interested in the trip, and the amazing diversity of aircraft flown by some of Australia's most kick arse aviatrices, do check out the blog at http://womenpilotsrelay.blogspot.com.au 

Most of us have been touched by cancer at some point during our lives. Some have had their own personal battles and many of us have lost loved ones to the disease.

Cancer Councils are the leading independent funders of cancer research in Australia. In 2014, research grants through Cancer Councils totalled more than $65 million. Cancer Councils directly funded $42.9 million in research, with a further $22.2 million contributed by research funding partners.

A group of female pilots, mostly from the Australian Women Pilots’ Association (AWPA) members, wanted to help make a difference and why not do it by sharing our love of flying?

The concept is pretty simple;

• Starting from the Avalon Airshow on the 2nd March 2015 and finishing at the Australian Women Pilots’ Association National Conference in Launceston Tasmania, women pilots from all areas of Australia have been recruited to fly a relay baton in their aircraft around Australia to raise money for The Cancer Council.
  
• Each participating team will plan their flight somewhere along a proposed route anti clockwise around Australia and will pass a commemorative baton from each flight crew to the next along the route and then handed to the next state at the designated exchange point. Aircraft will range from smaller powered aircraft, gliders, balloons, twin engines, helicopters, Navy and Air Force aircraft, through to the big airliners.
  
• The relay details and photographs will be recorded by each team and uploaded to the web site and Facebook page so that others can watch our progress around Australia.
  http://womenpilotsrelay.blogspot.com.au
  https://www.facebook.com/WomenPilotsRelay
  

• The Cancer Council have a link on their website for people to donate to the cause as we fly around Australia to raise awareness. So far we have reached 10% of our target!

http://nsw.cancercouncilfundraising.org.au/teamPage.aspx?TeamID=85203

‘We believe that we can really make a difference and share our passion for aviation along the way. This will be a fun filled activity that will span our country, create history and support a charity that is advancing towards a cure for cancer.’

Email: womenpilotsrelay@gmail.com www.womenpilotsrelayblogspot.com.au www.facebook.com/WomenPilotsRelay