REGINA, Sask. — The STARS Rescue on the Prairies fundraiser came through with a big haul of donations to help the organization in its mission to stay in the air.
STARS announced that the five Saskatchewan industry and community leaders who participated had raised a total of $774,000 from the Rescue on the Prairie effort, which was followed that evening by A Night with STARS gala.
“It was amazing to see our community partners come together for Rescue on the Prairie this year,” said Jeri-Lynn Johnston, STARS chief foundation and brand officer, in a statement.
“The STARS community is at the heart of everything we do. These five participants played a vital role in raising critical funds for STARS, and ensuring we can be there for the next patient in need. On behalf of all of us at STARS, I am deeply appreciative of their involvement today.”
It had been a busy day on Sept. 17 for the five rescue participants: Allan Wiens, CEO of SeedMaster Manufacturing Ltd.; Jason LeBlanc, farmer and strategic advisor with Steffes Auctioneers; Shawn Patenaude of Shawn Patenaude Law; Bobbee-Jo Wood, vice-president and insurance broker at Atlas York Insurance; and Cindy Michel, director of sales with Harvard Media.
The participants began their day early in the morning at the STARS base in Regina, where they participated in initial challenges at the base before heading to the tarmac just after 8 a.m. to board and then take off in the STARS H145 helicopter.
There, they were transported to a remote location about 30 km north of Regina, not far south of the town of Lumsden.
At that location, STARS reports the participants completed a series of challenges, from fundraising to medical and aviation. STARS said in a release that the challenges reflected aspects of what it takes to keep STARS in flight.
While there, each of the participants was also reaching out to potential donors, trying to raise $50,000 each to earn their flight home.
After they returned home, the participants celebrated their successes at A Night with STARS Regina, presented by Western Sales, where additional funds were raised for the organization.
"Everyone came together as a team. Even though we were competing against one another in the challenges, we were united by a shared goal: keeping STARS in the air," said rescue participant Wood, vice-president and insurance broker at Atlas York Insurance, in a statement. "It truly hits home when you have family and friends who need that service."
The organization says funds raised through the events “help make STARS’ mission possible,” with the organization having flown 859 missions in Saskatchewan last year alone.
