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The senior neurologist who was attempting to fly around Australia to raise money for children with rare illnesses has completed his trip.
Associate professor Andrew Kornberg has already made more than $2 million of his $4.5 million target and undertook the flight in his own single-engine Cirrus SR22.
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The “Fly for the Kids” campaign – similar to Andrew’s previous flight in 2017 – saw him cover 27,000 kilometres over more than 50 hours in the air.
He hopes the money raised will help establish dedicated facilities and staff at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne for advanced therapies.
Along the way, Andrew visited patients who had been given new treatments to raise awareness of how kids with rare conditions can be given longer and happier lives.
Andrew previously spoke to the Australian Aviation Podcast ahead of his journey, which you can listen to below.
“In true hero fashion, Andrew survived on a rigorous coffee routine: two before takeoff, one for the landing stretch, and another to celebrate touchdown, a caffeine commitment that may or may not have caused a national coffee shortage,” RCH said.
“His in-flight playlist? An exclusive “AJK Special Songs” mix, played only after landing each day. Highlights from the skies included 51.3 hours of flying, a caffeine-fuelled journey with at least 150 coffees consumed, and a custom AJK soundtrack played only after each day’s flying; no repeats allowed.
“The best barramundi of the trip was found at the Carpentaria Grill in Borroloola, and the most unforgettable stop?
“The tiny, iconic Forrest Airport: a moment etched in memory forever. But beyond the stats and stories lies the real impact: one in three children with a rare disease won’t live to see their fifth birthday.
“The funds raised by Andrew’s journey will help change that, supporting gene therapy and other advanced treatments that are giving kids a second chance at life. These therapies reduce hospital stays, help children reach milestones once deemed impossible, and in some cases, even offer a cure.”
To learn more about Fly for the Kids, donate, or fundraise, visit www.flyforthekids.org.au.
