FunFlight News

Seriously sick children's worries take flight
By DAVID WOIWOD (The Examiner, Tasmania)
November 10, 2008

MORE than 20 seriously ill children left their troubles on the ground yesterday as they took to the skies over Northern Tasmania.

The children and their families packed into small planes at the Tasmanian Aero Club for a day of fun and excitement organised by charity FunFlights.

 FunFlights director Richard Ogilvie said his company's aim was to make life a little easier for families with a seriously sick child.

 "Our charter is to give children from around Australia the opportunity to forget what is happening in other aspects of their lives," Mr Olgivie said.

 "Life can be very hard for some kids so we give them some excitement and something to tell their friends about."

 Daniel Whelan, 12, suffers from cystic fibrosis and spends prolonged periods at the Royal Melbourne Hospital receiving treatment.

 As part of yesterday's flights Daniel, his mother and step- father were flown from their home in Somerset to Launceston.

 Daniel returned from hospital in Melbourne only last week and the flight gave a clearly delighted boy something to tell his friends about.

 "We saw mates' houses when we flew over them and waved to all the towns we flew over along the way," Daniel said.

 Josh Smith, 8, has a heart condition but was ready to step out on to the tarmac yesterday to take his joyflight.

 Josh admitted to being a little bit nervous, but said he was more excited than nervous to be taking part in the flight.

 "I am going with my mum, dad and brother, we are all excited," Josh said.

 FunFlights conducted the flights with the Starlight Foundation and Heart Kids as part of a national day of flights.

 More than 850 children and their families received flights yesterday around the country, with pilots lending their time and planes to the charity.