Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) General Manager, Dave Foster is taking a Leaders’ Leap to raise funds for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

On 30 June, Dave will join other Hunter business leaders to abseil 29 metres down the face of McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.

Dave said he has a fear of heights, but always takes opportunities to challenge those fears.

“I have abseiled a few times at leadership and team building sessions, but it is not something I enjoy doing,” Dave said.

“If I am at McDonald Jones Stadium, it is to watch the footy, not climb down the side of the building.”

Dave said he is taking part to raise awareness and funds for the work the Westpac Rescue Helicopter does to save the lives of people in the Hunter.

“As I’m taking myself down the face of the stadium it will be an opportunity to reflect on the vital work of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, who regularly winch people to safety from the bush, ocean and other hard-to-access locations,” Dave said.

“They really do make a difference in our community every day.

“The chopper service is vital to the communities of the Hunter Valley and Upper Hunter in quickly getting people to the John Hunter Hospital or other medical services.”

“I know that last year the Service did around 1,500 missions across Northern NSW and 70 of those were in the Upper Hunter.

“It costs $4,500 an hour just to fly the helicopters, so I am hoping to raise as much as I can to contribute to meeting those costs.”

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is also a HVO charity partner. The service has a mining truck painted in its colours and HVO will make an annual donation based on the truck’s haulage.

HVO staff support the service through HVO’s workplace giving program, having donated more than $1.1 million to date.

Joint owners of HVO, Yancoal and Glencore, are also both big supporters and are logo rights sponsors of the service.