But Rolande Hooklyn is determined to turn that passion to action, to do her part in keeping the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in the air, those people who never gave up on her Phillip even when all hope was lost.

She and her new fiancé Daniel Grant will be taking on the Drover's Run in August.

"It came up on the internet, and it sparked our interest because of what it was supporting," Ms Hooklyn explained.

"When I looked at the dates, they just jumped out at me - Phillip's birthday is the 20th of August - and that was it - everything seemed to be pointing towards Philip.

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"We truly get to celebrate his life on this adventure, and support the people who tried to help him."

Phillip died in 1998 of an asthma attack on Ms Hooklyn's 38^th birthday.

The helicopter came and took him from Inverell to Tamworth, but he sadly passed before the blades started up.

"He lost his fight here, but they hoped a miracle would happen," Ms Hooklyn remembers.

"It didn't - but they just refused to give up."

They're just $50 away from smashing their $2500 target - in less than one week.

"When I was 17 I put on a concert for Leukemia. The support I got was amazing," Ms Hooklyn explained.

"Four or five years ago I raised money for the Asthma foundation - the locals were just so, so supportive. And now in a just one week, we've almost reached our total goal with months to go!"

She loves a challenge, and the road trip ticks all of those boxes for her, and is looking forward to listening to Jack Savoretti and plenty of country music with her "rock" Mr Grant.

Mr Grant thanked Northaven for letting him take the time off work, and for their contribution to the trip, without which the trip wouldn't have happened.

It will be the first major road trip for the newly engaged couple, who have "changed each others life" in a happy turn both were hesitant to take.

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"I said no three times when he asked - not because I didn't want to, but because I didn't feel worthy," Ms Hooklyn said.

But he never gave up, determined to show her that though "all the negatives always come, but then you get the positives and have to grab them with both hands".

"Don't ponder the past, don't wonder about the future and what might've been. Live in the present and make the most out of it," he said.

The Drover's Run 4WD outback adventure runs from August 6 to 23. Find their donation page here, with 100 per cent of the money going to the local service.

"Thank you to everyone who has been so generous so far," Mr Hooklyn said.

"We are also proud to be giving to small communities on our travels along the way."

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