It’s not just aeroplanes that keep the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) up in the air. A dedicated group of fundraisers are this month using pedal power to help keep the doctors flying.

The Silver City Bush Treadlers are once again saddling up and setting out on an outback bike ride to raise funds for the RFDS, and the Dubbo Department of Primary Industries’ Helen Fairweather is taking part.

To stimulate the flow of money, Ms Fairweather yesterday decided to give her head the full monty and shave off her hair.

“The hair shaving was just a means of kick-starting the money flow and also to raise awareness,” Ms Fairweather said.

“This will be my fourth ride and I’m looking forward to it. There’s usually a group of about 20 to 30 riders who return each year, so it’s a good way to stay in touch with old friends.”

The 28-day trip departs from Broken Hill this Sunday and travels via White Cliffs, Milparinka, Lyndhurst and Maree, before arriving at Alice Springs on August 5. Fourteen riders will then venture north to Darwin.

More than 70 cyclists, with an average age of 55, are setting off on the journey, which follows in the tracks of the first three people to ride their bikes to Darwin in 1908.

Event organiser June Files has organised the annual ride for the past 13 years, each time raising money for the RFDS.

“I love a challenge and I want to prove you don’t have to be a youngster to enjoy cycling,” Ms Files said. “I thought a re-enactment would be a fitting memorial to the memory of those early cyclists. We’ll be cycling through countryside, across remote properties, in national parks and along tracks hardly visited.”

This year, in the 80th anniversary of the RFDS, trekkers are hoping to do something special.

“We’re hoping to raise enough money to buy a flexiscope, which costs $20,000 or even a tester for aircraft navigation systems which costs about $40,000,” Ms Files said.

To donate money to the Silver City Bush Treadlers call 1800 444 788 or visit www.flyingdoctors.org.au