Ramona Cox, one of this
year’s forum speakers at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, is known for her
adventurous solo bush flying. But she’s at AirVenture for another
reason: raising money in support of the 99s International Organization
of Women Pilots and its 99s Flying For A Breast Cancer Cure program.
Having lost her mother to
breast cancer at the age of 10, she admitted that she had avoided the
subject completely since the memories were just too painful. "With
the support of other members of the 99s International Organization of
Women Pilots, I decided to bite the bullet…take my head out of the
sand…and help other cancer victims that are suffering as my mother
did," she said.
She began e-mailing and
talking to friends, requesting pledges for the 24 flight hours it would
take to fly from Los Angeles to AirVenture and back. She was amazed with
the response. So far, she has raised $2,500 and is asking AirVenture
attendees to help in this worthy cause. "Every little bit helps,
and with breast cancer being the leading cause of death in women between
the ages of 40 and 55, research funds are desperately needed," Cox
said.
