On this occasion Angel Flight assisted a Lightning Ridge man on a mission to help save the life of his sister.

For Ken Hunt life living in the bush has been quite a challenge, and since November 2003 he has been faced with new challenges, making regular visits to Dubbo and Sydney for blood tests in the hope that he can help save the life of his sister Gwen.

Gwen has a rare type of Leukaemia; so rare that only 20 people in the world have been identified with her condition. She has been receiving treatment for approximately 2 years and now her only chance of life is to receive a stem cell transplant from a compatible donor.

"My five sisters and I have been checked to see if we can help Gwen," Mr. Hunt said. Mr. Hunt and his wife, Mary, have been taking all this in their stride, but the lengthy trips have certainly impacted on their personal and business lives as well as putting additional pressure on their finances.

"I am the only one compatible with Gwen, and I’d do anything to help her no matter what inconvenience I have to suffer or how far I have to travel. However we are very isolated and I think Angel Flight is a brilliant idea as it will make life easier for me and many others who probably need the service much more than I do," he said.

In fact, this flight to Sydney was the final step for Ken Hunt, as he attended St. Vincent’s Hospital where he received drug therapy before donating stem cells, which may well save the life of his sister Gwen.

"It’s been a challenging time for all of us and I just hope now that my stem cell donation has done what it was supposed to do, but we’ll just have to wait and see," Mr. Hunt said.On the flight to Sydney Ken had one short stopover in Tamworth, where the Angel Flight touched down to help make life a little easier for five year old, Jasmine Wallace, and her mother Ms Linda Porter (M85).Watch the TV news coverage for this mission.

This story appeared in The Ridge News (8 April), The Ridge News (14 April) and The Coonamble Times.

John Lewis - Pilot

Ground transport in Sydney was provided by a volunteer driver from ‘Country Care Link’.

Angel Flight 1 by John Lewis

"This special act of kindness is being carried out by a Sydney businessman, John Lewis, who will use his personal corporate jet, a Cessna Citation / CJ525 to carry out his first mission as an Angel Flight pilot.Whilst reluctant to talk about himself, as he believes the focus should be on the people Angel Flight is helping, he said that a personal experience had influenced him to help others, especially those living in remote areas and needing medical help.

"Ten years ago our son, was born prematurely and had to be airlifted from Katoomba to Westmead hospital. This was quite scary and it brought home to me the importance of having air transport available in these situations. Later on our son was diagnosed with diabetes and this has added to my understanding of the necessity of having medical help easily available."

Mr. Lewis said that as soon as he heard about Angel Flight he registered as a volunteer pilot.

"We have the ability to help in this way, and if our aircraft is not being used in its commercial capacity, why not put it to use and help someone else. Many of us think that the need for such help will never happen to us, but I have been woken up to the fact that it can happen to me and to you."

Joe Power - Pilot

Ground transport in Sydney was provided by a volunteer driver from ‘Country Care Link’.

Angel Flight 2 by Joe Power

"Good Friday, 9th April 2004, at approximately 11.30am Ken returned home, once again with Angel Flight, but this time flying in a four-seater Cessna Cardinal, with Diamond Beach vet, Joe Power at the controls. [Diamond Beach is situated between Taree and Forster]. Whilst Joe is more accustomed to helping make animals more comfortable within his local community, it’s not his veterinary skills he used on this occasion, but his skills as a pilot to transport Ken back home from Sydney absolutely free of charge.

Whilst this was the second "Angel Flight" for Ken, it was the first flight of this kind for Joe Power, who joined Angel Flight when it was launched on 8th April 2003. [Just one year old!]

Previously from Sydney, Joe gave up his veterinary practice there to open a new clinic in Diamond Beach, and enjoys flying over the lakes and waterways surrounding his new home.

"I just love taking people up and sharing my joy of flying over our beautiful country, and if I can also help someone in need by doing this I will," he said.

"I know that a lot of people out there are struggling and in dire financial straits, and if as an Angel Flight pilot I can make life a little easier for them, then that’s the least I can do."

Joe enjoyed the trip to Lightning Ridge where he and his wife, Helen, stayed overnight on the Friday at the Wallangulla Motel, courtesy of the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club as a token of appreciation from Ken’s local community."