Community leaders participate in 'rescue' fundraiser for STARS
Four members of the community were tasked with competing to raise the most money in the sixth annual Stars Rescue on the Prairie fundraising event.
On Thursday morning, the participants were airlifted by STARS helicopter to an undisclosed location. There, they took part in several medical and aviation challenges, while contacting people in their personal networks to donate to the cause. Each participant needed to raise at least $50,000 to secure their flight back to Regina.
Wayne Morsky, board chair for Regina Exhibition Association Limited, was one of the participants.
“It’s a great cause, and I put my hand up right away when I was asked,” said Morsky.
Morsky said, while he has never needed to use STARS, he has had family and friends rely on the service.
“It’s something that I hope we never have to use, but when you do need it, it is there for you,” he said. “It’s a great cause. Especially now with all the things that have happened with our frontline workers. I wanted to put my support behind them.”
STARS air ambulance gets ready to take off as part of the sixth annual STARS Rescue on the Prairies. (Taylor Rattray/CTV News)
STARS air ambulance gets ready to take off as part of the sixth annual STARS Rescue on the Prairies. (Taylor Rattray/CTV News)
Ryan Saxon, participant and president of Border Insulators and RR Tank and Equipment, said it’s vital for our province to have STARS, especially given the rural nature of Saskatchewan.
“On the whole oil side of things, and also the farming as well. It’s such a big area to cover. It’s really important to have them,” Saxon said.
The 2020 Rescue on the Prairie event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019 fundraiser, held near Saskatoon, raised more than $360,000 for the non-profit organization.
“Fifty per cent of our funding comes from the community. And every dime goes directly towards the mission,” said Andrea Robertson, STARS CEO. “It is critically important to keep us flying and there for the people of Saskatchewan.”
STARS expects to have the final fundraiser total on Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.