Danielle flies high for cancer research cause

Danielle - along with some 70 female pilots including private, commercial and military pilots from around Australia - is participating in the relay to celebrate women in aviation.

And as part of that celebratory relay which will cover 18,000km, these pilots aim to raise much-needed funds for the Cancer Council.

The relay was launched from Avalon Air Show in Victoria on March 2, and the route will be flown counter clockwise around Australia, terminating in Launceston, Tasmania, on April 22.

In each leg of the journey, a commemorative baton is handed from pilot to pilot at each of the stops. For 28-year-old Danielle, the idea to be part of the relay really "grabbed her", and she wanted to be involved in such a big event.

The opportunity to raise some much-needed funds for the Cancer Council was also something that really struck a chord with her.

Like many others, cancer has touched Danielle's life, as her mother Debbie is a cancer survivor.

It was during Danielle's teenage years that she recalls her mother receiving life-saving treatment for ovarian cancer.

"My mother was sick on and off for a few years, and it certainly had an influence on me," she said.

Danielle says she supported her mother on her frequent medical appointments.

"It had a big role in helping me decide what I would do in life."

Danielle got her pilot's licence three years ago, and now has

150 hours in a single Cessna rating.

And while Danielle didn't intend to become a pilot initially, she undertook lessons as a way of overcoming her fear of flying.

"I got into it because I had a friend who was a light aircraft pilot.

"Every time I went flying with him I was very scared, so I took lessons to ease my fears.

"And after a couple of lessons I really fell in love with flying, and continued to obtain my licence."

So Danielle was delighted when she was nominated to fly the longest leg of the relay from Bundaberg to Mackay, which took about two-and-a-half hours.

She flew the 1972 model Cessna 182 from Bundaberg to Mackay at her own cost, and was accompanied by co-pilot Julian Adams.

A strong believer in the importance of medical research, Danielle hired the plane from a Toowoomba friend.

"There have been longer flights undertaken, but these were done on scheduled flights with female crews of Qantaslink."

Danielle is in her third year of medical studies studying at the University of Queensland Rural Clinic based at Hervey Bay campus, and has dreams of one day becoming a flying GP.

At the time of Queensland Country Life's interview with Danielle, the relay baton had arrived in Darwin and was heading to Perth, after several tours around far north Queensland.

So far, more than $17,000 has been raised for the Cancer Council.