{"id":278714,"date":"2020-09-28T17:27:49","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T07:27:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=278714"},"modified":"2021-04-09T16:12:13","modified_gmt":"2021-04-09T06:12:13","slug":"club-organises-leukaemia-fundraiser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/09\/28\/club-organises-leukaemia-fundraiser\/","title":{"rendered":"Club Organises Leukaemia Fundraiser"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nicole and Dean Eckart with their daughter Matilda … Dean is now facing months of more treatment (Photo: KAMS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 28, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

COVID-19 can’t stop the Kingaroy Aero Modellers Society members from holding their annual fly-in October, but this year the fun event will also have a more serious side.<\/p>\n

Club vice-president Dean Eckart was diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year and has been receiving chemotherapy.<\/p>\n

The fly-in, on October 17-18, will be an opportunity for the club to raise funds to support the work of the Leukaemia Foundation.<\/p>\n

John Box – who was re-elected KAMS president at the recent AGM – said the public was invited to come along to the fly-in to watch the aircraft in action and “have a go” (for a $5 donation).<\/strong><\/p>\n

COVID-19 restrictions will apply and there will be hand-sanitising stations at the site entry and in the pits and canteen areas.<\/p>\n

John said Dean received a bone marrow transplant last week but still had months of treatment ahead of him.<\/p>\n

This is the latest health scare for the keen aeromodeller who has been wheelchair-bound for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

In 2007, the semi-professional motocross rider suffered a severe injury when riding.<\/p>\n

He speared headfirst into a bank; his spinal cord was severed at the seventh thoracic vertebra, both his lungs were punctured, seven ribs were broken, and he came very close to puncturing his aorta.<\/p>\n

Dean was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane where he was diagnosed as a complete paraplegic, paralysed from the chest down.<\/p>\n

He had been involved in aeromodelling before the crash but returned to it with a vengeance afterwards.<\/p>\n

John said KAMS had passed on its thoughts, prayers and best wishes to Dean and his family.<\/strong><\/p>\n

People who would like to support the fundraiser but can’t make it to the fly-in, are invited to make donations directly to the Leukaemia Foundation: BSB: 082-057 \/ Account: 856164475 \/ Ref:\u00a0961644.<\/p>\n