The Westpac Chopper Challenge
ONE MISSION – YOUR MISSION
The Westpac Chopper Challenge has landed!
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter crews work together 24/7, 365 days a year to complete over 1000 rescue missions, every mission presenting multiple mental and physical obstacles to overcome.
Now it’s your turn to face the obstacles in a team of four….
On 17th November we are taking off for Matakana for the ultimate test of teamwork, endurance, strength, and stamina….
The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust has partnered with Westpac and Action Matakana to bring you this unparalleled test of your physical and mental capabilities.
You and your three teammates will be put against the clock to complete either one or two laps of this purpose designed 3km course with over 30 demanding obstacles in your path. Think scaling 9ft walls, wading through creeks, rope swinging over mud pits and that’s just the start.
One lap or 2, teamwork - and a change of clothes - will be vital!
“I have travelled all around the world competing in trail runs and Action Matakana is one of the best courses out there in terms of obstacles.”
Liam Wilkinson – Ascend Fit
Why compete? Did you know Westpac Rescue Helicopter Crews work in teams of four? These teams include a Doctor, a Pilot, a Crewman, and an Intensive Care Paramedic. Although each has their own role on the team, it is imperative that they work together to complete each life-saving mission. The Westpac Chopper Challenge has been created to recognise this inspiring teamwork and raise vital funding for this life-saving service.
Rise to the challenge!
Our goal is to raise $100,000 and so we are asking you and your team to fundraise $5,000 for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust – that’s the average cost of one rescue mission.
YOUR MISSION - Take part, have a great time and save a life.
FUNDRAISING LEADERBOARD
About Us
The Auckland based Westpac Rescue Helicopter is staffed full-time by a highly experienced flight crew consisting of pilots, paramedics and crewmen, and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In addition to this, the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) complements the team with specialist trauma physicians with the team to make further improvements to the chain of care for the patient.
2010/11 was the Auckland Rescue Helicopter services’ 40th year in operation. This was a milestone for the service, which started the world's first ever civilian surf rescue helicopter service back in late 1970. Since then, the service has performed many thousands of rescues and is internationally recognised for its pioneering work in saving lives.
FAQs
You may be familiar with the work they do in the community, but what you probably do not know is that Auckland Helicopter Trust now go to over 1000 missions a year throughout the Greater Auckland and Coromandel regions. This is an incredible mission workload for their two helicopters and crews.
ARHT’s moto is Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere, and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter really is a charity that anyone may need. They help people of any age, gender and nationality, wherever they can get to them, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Although the average mission costs around $5000, this community service is 100% free of charge thanks to the goodwill and generosity of community members like you.
Without your support they simply cannot fly, or save lives.
As with anything in life, it is important to have goals for your fundraising. We are asking teams to fundraise $5,000 as part of their entry in to the Westpac Chopper Challenge, as a team of four that’s $1250 per person.
Similar events have shown that this goal is easily achievable with a little bit of effort. In fact, many participants raise significantly more.
1. Make a plan
- Decide on an initial team fundraising commitment.
- Brainstorm ideas and schedule them.
2. Set up a team page
- Log in to Everydayhero and update your page with bio and photo.
- Write your first blog.
- Ask a generous friend for a big first donation – others will follow.
3. Spread the word
- Send an email to everyone you know with your page link and add the link to your email signature.
- Create posts on Social media.
- Print out posters for around the workplace, gym, local notice board etc.
4. Plan some events
- Contact ARHT for any extra resources
- Host one or more fundraising events. One big one and a few smaller ones.
- Speak to a local business and ask them to sponsor or donate items for raffles/prizes.
5. Raise the target
- When nearing your commitment, why not increase it? There’s only one way to get to the top of the leader board!
6. Thank donors
- Make sure that you thank donors post-event and tell them how you went.
- Host a post event party to thank your donors!
ASK
Get out there and ask people you know (and people you do not know) to support you. Reach out as far and as wide as possible, you never know who may surprise you.
EMAIL
The most effective fundraising method (by far) is to email friends, family and colleagues directly to ask for support. Tell them what you are doing and why, and ask them to donate to your page. The best emails ask for a specific amount and show what that amount could provide for the cause. Here are a few examples relevant to the rescue helicopter service:
Night Vision Goggles = $14,000
One Rescue Mission = $4,500
Flight Helmet = $3,750
Rescue Lifejacket = $2,500
Personal Locator Beacon = $1,000
One hour of fuel (1 mission’s worth) = $500
SOCIAL
One of your most effective fundraising tools will be your ability to leverage your social networks. You will need to engage your network as often as possible. Your Everydayhero page will link directly with your Facebook page and allow you to share your training and fundraising journey with your friends and extended social network. When people see the amount of effort you are putting in, they will get in behind you.
WORKPLACE
Many employers encourage their staff to be active in the community. What you are doing is amazing and worth sharing with your colleagues, management, up to your CEO. The support you receive may surprise you.
SEND IN YOUR DOLLARS
Getting donations on to your Everydayhero page is the best, but if you have any cheques (made out to Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust) or other offline funds, you can send it in to us and we will get the amount added to your page total!
KEEP GOING!
People will always donate more to help you reach your fundraising target. When you get close to your target, why not increase it? You will see more funds rolling in giving you the opportunity to be the top fundraiser. Updating your fundraising target is easy via your Everydayhero page.
If you have entered a team in to the Westpac Chopper Challenge OCR, after you have created your own supporter page, one member of your team must create a TEAM PAGE. Your page can now act as a team leader to approve team requests, edit the team page and invite members via email. To begin setup simply:
Click on the ‘create a new team’ link to the right hand side of your team leader page and enter your team’s name.
Congratulations! You have created your TEAM PAGE. You will see that you are the first and only member at this stage. Take time to personalise your page by clicking on the ‘edit this team page’ button.
Share your team page with all members of your fundraising team and ask that they join the team by creating their own supporter page.
Your fundraising page will stay active up until a month after the event.
Contact Us
To arrange further support please contact:
Leanda Hunt
(09) 950 7261
Everydayhero
If you need any help or assistance with Everydayhero please contact their helpdesk:
0800 22 43 76
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