Major milestone for lifesaving service
THE heroes in a helicopter are celebrating 10 years in the south west.
LifeFlight, world leaders in aeromedical care, have provided lifesaving emergency help to south-west Queensland for a decade.
They will hold a special 10th birthday celebration at the Clive Berghofer LifeFlight Centre, Toowoomba, this Saturday at 10am.
LifeFlight's fundraising general manager Leanne Angel said the occasion was a chance to recognise the support of the south-west community.
"LifeFlight simply wouldn't be here without them," Mrs Angel said.
"The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter is very much a community service and continues to rely on the support of the generous south-west community. We feel privileged to have their ongoing support. All money fundraised by the local community goes directly to the local helicopter rescue service."
Karen Biltoft-Garvey from Toowoomba has a personal interest in LifeFlight's south-west services.
She was transported from Toowoomba Hospital to St Andrew's War Memorial Hospital in Brisbane after CT scans detected a large brain tumour.
"Tests showed the tumour was pushing on my frontal lobe so hard it was trying to push my brain towards my spinal column," Mr Biltoft-Garvey said.
"I am so lucky I was airlifted. I am only alive because the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter got me to Brisbane in time."
Mrs Angel said LifeFlight was established in the south-west 10 years ago, after Toowoomba businessman Clive Berghofer recognised an urgent need in the region.
"His generous ongoing patronage allows LifeFlight to continue to make a difference to the lives of so many people," Mrs Angel said.