Pilots Ken Evers and Tim Pryse plan to circumnavigate the world in an Australian-built plane, the first time ever, to raise money for malaria research and awareness through their Millions Against Malaria foundation.

But unless they can raise $150,000 by noon today ZZZSTART NOTES March 17END NOTESZZZ their Saturday departure will be postponed.

A disheartened Mr Evers said major local and Australian businesses had turned down requests for sponsorship, including some he initially thought could have been their biggest supporters.

“No one in Australia seems to be interested in becoming part of an Australian first.

“The lack of support in Bendigo itself has surprised me.

“When we started, I thought local organisations would want to be in partnership with us and would be proud to be a part of it too.”

Just three local businesses donated money to the cause, which Mr Evers described as an opportunity to put Bendigo on the map in world aviation.

“Bendigo Aviation Services, City of Greater Bendigo and Thales have been fantastic,” he said.

“We’ve also had a lot of individual families, and we are enormously grateful for their contributions and input.”

He said member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons had also shown them support by doing work to raise awareness for their foundation and even trying to arrange for John Brumby, Julia Gillard or Kevin Rudd to attend the launch of their adventure.

Mr Evers said that after 12 months of hard work he was disappointed the trip had come down to this, despite support from across the world.

“We need $150,000 still, but we’ve already raised $250,000.

“The vast majority of that, 90 per cent, has come from overseas.

“The reason overseas companies want to be a part of this is because it is a world first - once it’s been done it can never be done the same way again.”

Mr Evers said there was still a chance for the flight to go ahead on Saturday if support from the community flowed.

“I’ll be on the phone to everybody I know trying to raise that money,” he said.

Donations and sponsorship can still be arranged by visiting www.millionsagainstmalaria.com.au or calling Mr Evers on 0428 14 375 or Mr Pryse on 0413 179 268.