HPAC/ACVL

Fred Wilson

Mark Jennings-Bates and Glenn Derouin from the Okanagan Valley British Columbia Canada
are heading off to Australia in January for a three month long World Record Flight attempt
aiming to fly all around Australia to raise $4 million for Fresh Water Treatment for Kenya:
and to raise money for Australia's Flying Doctor Service.

Follow Mark at http://rally4life.org/ and on FaceBook at: http://www.facebook.com/rally4life

Follow Glen at: http://paraglidecanada.blogspot.com/

News update in Today's Vernon Morning Star Newpaper:
See: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/137525758.html

"Local glides toward Guinness

Two Okanagan men are preparing to take flight and break a world record.

Vernon’s Glenn Derouin and Peachland’s Mark Jennings-Bates are in Australia attempting to set a new Guinness Book of World Record for longest powered paragliding flight.

“All the planning and hard work of the Flight4Life team, the volunteers, the sponsors … we’re finally ready to get this thing off the ground,” said Mark Jennings-Bates..."

cont...

See also the earlier article at: http://www.chbcnews.ca/okanagan+men+look+to+break+flying+record/6442560474/story.html

Fred Wilson · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 09:29 am Post subject:

Fwd from: Mark Jennings-Bates http://www.facebook.com/rally4life

Hi Everyone.
I just posted a new blog with details on how to win prizes while we are flying around Australia...
give us a like, make a donation and every week, we will draw for a few prizes from our generous sponsors
and maybe a few generous Aussie companies along the way #adventure #charity

Give a bit to save a lot! http://theflight4life.com/137

From our Foundation: http://rally4life.org/rally-4-life-drivers
_________________________________________________

"Rally4Life is a Canadian Registered Charitable Organization, all donations are tax deductible.

Rally4Life will work with Charity partners, approved by our Board, who are experts in their field to achieve our common goals.

*100% of all public donations will go directly to fund project costs.*

When you donate, you can choose which project to support or give to a general fund to be allocated to grants and projects by the Board of Directors"

Fred Wilson · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 09:29 am Post subject:

From: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Jennings-Bates/215315875145113?sk=wall
"First cash donation for the Royal Flying Doctor Service today in our campground... we are on our way early tomorrow morning!"

See also: http://theflight4life.com/what-is-wrong-with-this-picture ?

In February 2012, Parajet Expedition pilots, Mark Jennings-Bates and Glenn Derouin will depart Queensland Australia
in an attempt to set a new world record to fly paramotors over 9,000 kilometres in one single expedition.
The flight through Australia is sure to be challenging yet inspiring.
Through their travels, Mark and Glenn hope to encourage people to reach higher, push beyond their self perceived boundaries and dream bigger.
An important component of the trip is the pilots desire to raise money and awareness for their chosen charities, the Rally4Life Foundation and the Royal Flying Doctor Service… Learn More

Fred Wilson · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 09:30 am Post subject:

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Every day in many ways the Royal Flying Doctor Service takes the finest care to Australia’s furthest corners so that anyone who lives, works or travels in remote and rural Australia can enjoy the best of health.

Using the latest in aviation, medical and communications technology, delivered by a dedicated team of professionals, find out more about how we deliver both 24-hour emergency services and everyday essential health care.

Rally 4 Life

Founded in 2009 Rally4Life is a Canadian Registered Charity with a Mission:
“To relieve poverty through the provision of safe water, sanitation, sustenance, education and shelter to families in need around the world”.

Currently our projects range from funding orphanages and schools in Nicaragua and Guatemala and constructing safe water projects in Africa.

We work with Adventure Advocates such as Mark Jennings-Bates and Glenn Derouin and the Flight4Life crew
who gain publicity through their activities to raise funds and awareness about the projects we support.
Our philosophy is to attract a lot of followers and to solicit a little help from a lot of people.
Over 4 billion people live in poverty, over 2.5 billion do not have access to proper sanitation and 1.5 billion have no clean water.
We wish to demonstrate to you that the problems in this world are not insurmountable and how positive outcomes can be reached if we all work together.
For example, we have seen firsthand the difference a well can make in a rural, tribal village, where people used to have to walk up to 20 km per day to search
for increasingly scarce, dirty water. Safe water greatly improves health, especially for children, creates free time for education, enterprise and diversifies
the local’s dependance on dwindling livestock through agricultural initiatives. Join us in making a difference, one person at a time.

Fred Wilson · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 02:45 am Post subject:

Okanagan men complete first leg in flight of their lives
http://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/138945059.html

Breaking into the Guinness Book of World Records is no easy task.

And to do it by attempting the world's longest powered paragliding flight probably isn't the easiest way.

Nevertheless, on Wednesday, Peachland's Mark Jennings-Bates and Vernon's Glenn Derouin began their attempt to fly past the previous record of 8,008 km, set by Canadian Ben Jordan.

"Our goal is to set a new Guinness World Record for the longest continuous expedition by powered paraglider by flying over 12,000 km around Australia," said Jennings-Bates.

"We just flew the first leg (Wednesday) morning from Townsville to Charters Tower:
A distance of approximately 80 km. We're now waiting for the winds to calm down again before hopefully flying another 200 km (Wednesday) evening."

The pair were set to begin their journey—which they have called the Flight4Life—earlier this month; however, poor weather conditions set them back a few days.

"The weather has been a real problem on a few fronts.
The rain has meant that many roads are closed and while Glenn and I can fly over them, the ground crew cannot follow us.

"To add to that, the winds are typically north to south this time of year, which would blow us in the direction that we want to go;
however, they are currently 180 degrees from that, so we are fighting a headwind."

The Canadian pilots have been mentally and physically preparing for this journey for years.

"Both Glenn and I spend quite a bit of time in the gym and running and competing in triathlons.

"The other aspect is to keep your head in the right place. The flying can get really intimidating sometimes and you have to keep one eye on safety and the other on the goal.
Our objective is to find that optimal balance between risk and reward."

The pair met in 1990 after Jennings-Bates had taken a hiatus from rock climbing and decided he wanted to try his hand at paragliding.
For several years, the two flew together in the Canadian Rockies until Jennings-Bates and his wife, Jackie, started to raise their family.

A few years ago, Jennings-Bates approached Derouin about tackling a world record project for charity. As a result, the Flight4Life was born.

The purpose of the journey—besides breaking into the record books—is to attempt to raise money for the Rally4Life Foundation:
A charitable organization based in Canada that provide safe water solutions for remote communities as well as funding for schools and orphanages.

According to Jennings-Bates, each day, nearly 6,000 children die from lack of access to safe water or adequate sanitation.

"That is a child about every 20 seconds. We do not need to invent a cure—we know the answer."

His overall personal goal is to raise $4 million for the Rally4Life Foundation.

He said, for this particular trip, the funds have just started to come in.

"Local people have been handing money to us as we travel and on Facebook I have several hundred dollars donated.
A large part of the donations will come towards the end of the trip, but hopefully we can reach a meaningful goal of $200,000 for this trip."

The flying duo will also be raising awareness and funds for a well known Australian charity, the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

"Everyone tells us what a great organization they are," said Derouin.

"We have already met many people impacted by the positive service they provide in rural Australia and around the country in general."

One other perk for Jennings-Bates is that he has been recognized by Tourism Australia.

"Tourism Australia became quite interested in the project and my other activities when I spoke to them and felt (I) was a good fit for their Friends of Australia program.

"It's really cool and has about 80 to 90 advocates, including some much more famous people than me.
On Feb. 22, if our route and planning works out, I should be getting together with the other friends at a meeting in Sydney."

Those other "friends" include the likes of Sir Richard Branson and Lance Armstrong.

To follow Jennings-Bates and Derouin's journey or to donate to the cause, visit http://www.theflight4life.com.

Fred Wilson · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 07:05 pm Post subject:

Fred Wilson · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 04:37 pm Post subject:

NEWS FWD From: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rally4Life/277046695451

STOP PRESS!!! http://rally4life.org/
Santa has been! We are so excited, it has been a great few weeks for Rally4Life and we have another announcement coming in the new year.
Aeroplan has accepted us as a charity partner, allowing you to donate Aeroplan Miles to the charity.

One of the most significant costs of our recce and project visits is the flight, since we are often hosted by the indigenous people we are trying to help.
We will post the link to the donation page as it is available and please spread the word as soon as you see the notice,
it will be an amazing help for us here at Rally4Life which means we can help more people around the world!