Michelle Donnell has been donating to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust for nearly 20 years.
After she was rescued, she decided to give a “bit extra”.
Part of that “bit extra”, is leaving a gift in her will to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.
“I want to have control over my future. My husband and I have always had a will and we tend to update them every five years.”
“My husband has the causes he supports and I have mine, and I thought there’s no one I’d rather leave it to than the rescue helicopters.” Michelle Donnell.
Michelle lives just outside of Hokitika on the West Coast. She sees the rescue helicopter flying often.
“We’re quite remote here and sometimes even if the ambulance can get to you, it can’t get you to hospital fast enough. The rescue helicopter is such a valuable service.”
Michelle knows that first hand. In 2023, she was running the Paparoa Track when she says she got too busy thinking about lunch.
“I was running down the hill and forgot about the wooden bridge that was slimy and greasy. I slipped and landed straight on my knee, in the dirt. It split open like a watermelon.”
Michelle knew she couldn’t walk the seven kilometres out to the road without doing significantly more damage, so she set off her personal locator beacon and waited.
“It was the best noise in the world hearing the helicopter coming in.”
When the rescue helicopter landed, paramedics bundled Michelle in and took her straight to Greymouth Hospital. After a significant number of internal and external stitches, and eight weeks resting (which Michelle says was a very testing time!), she was on the mend.
After her recovery, it was important to Michelle to make sure she properly documented her decision to leave a gift in her will to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.
“My husband and I are both accountants and we’ve seen what can happen if you don’t have your wishes documented. Families can be left to guess what you would have wanted, and it can make an upsetting situation even more stressful.”
An important message Michelle wants to share is to ensure you have a will – even if you are young.
“You never know what will happen and, if the worst happens, people don’t understand how messy things can get. The one that’s left has to try and sort things out and decide what happens.
“Having a will puts you in charge and lets you decide what you want your legacy to be. For me, it’s the rescue helicopters.”
Today, Michelle is back hitting the running trails.
“But I admit every time I go over a bridge, I’m a little more cautious!”
