Malaria mission takes to the skies

AFTER many months of planning, Bendigo pilots Ken Evers and Tim Pryse have jetted off for a flight around the world that they hope will raise money and awareness for malaria.The pair left Bendigo on Saturday after being farewelled by supporters, and plan to fly over malaria-endemic countries to raise much-needed awareness for the number one cause of death in children aged under five around the world.Mr Evers and Mr Pryse hope to raise $1 million for the Australian Foundation for Peoples of Asia and the Pacific and Missions Aviation Fellowship.Their mission will take 55 days and about 230 hours of flight time. When they arrive home they will be the first pilots to circumnavigate the globe in an Australian-built plane.They will also produce a documentary that will highlight the malaria issues.Malaria claims more than one million lives each year, mostly in the heavily populated tropical areas of the globe, and in mostly impoverished nations not far from Australian shores.The duo plan to return to Bendigo on July 1.Follow the historic trip at www.millionsagainstmalaria.com, which includes a satellite tracker updated every six minutes.