(STARS)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Stars radio

Radiothon to ‘keep STARS in the sky’ takes off April 1

Mar 24, 2025 | 11:10 AM

For the fifth year, an integral part of emergency services in Saskatchewan is in need of community support.

The STARS Critical Care on the Air radiothon, presented by BPH will take place April 1 and 2.

“We are raising funds for the operating costs that it takes to keep STARS in the sky above Saskatchewan,” said Nic Fransoo, Pattison Media program director.

“As STARS is such a critical element of living in Saskatchewan, it shouldn’t matter where you live, whether or not you receive the care that’s necessary in an emergency.”

This year, over 50 stations from across the Prairies will be airing the event and listeners will hear stories from VIP Stories (Very Important Patients), the pilots, nurses, flight crews and first responders.

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2025 marks the 40th anniversary and since its inception, they have completed over 60,000 missions – 1,025 of them in Saskatchewan in 2023-24. According to its fact sheet, a fleet of 10 H145 helicopters are now in use across its six bases in Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie.

“That’s what STARS is all about, being able to reach all of our areas of our province and it costs money, it really does to keep this program running,” Fransoo said.

“Pattison Media is a huge supporter of the STARS Radiothon. We know the vital lifeline this service provides to the province of Saskatchewan and want to help in any way we can,” added Cristy Beggs, Programming Manager, Saskatchewan.

Roughly 50 per cent of their funding comes from provincial government while each base has an annual budget of $11.4 million. This year five VIPs Draidyn Wollmann, Sean Rickards, Tyler Lister and Paula Johnson and Lyle Griffin are sharing their stories and joining the fundraising efforts.

According to a profile story on the STARS website, 16-year-Wollmann had just started his first summer job as a lawn mower when the mower he was riding tipped following a sharp turn. Not only was he run over, he was trapped for an hour with the blade in his chest.

“In that hour, I was figuring out what was going on, and then, well, I was panicking a bit,” he said in the profile.

“It was terrifying. I couldn’t see. I was terrified as hell.”

Once again, this year will include fundraising for operations including medical equipment, community educator and fuel – the latter of which costs $550 for one hour of training.

Over the two days, the radiothon will begin at 6 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Fransoo said having the service in the province allows for residents to live their lives.

“There are lots of people who come here for the recreation: the outdoors, hunting, fishing, skiing whatever it might be whether you’re going out in the wintertime or in the summertime,” he said.

“Some of those things may take you to different corners of the province that don’t necessarily have a lot of access and that’s part of the appeal, that’s part of the draw, that’s part of the things that make us Prairie people – we love being here because we have the opportunity to do these things.”

To donate, by phone on the Viterra Lifeline: Call1-877-50-STARS or1-877-507-8277 and if you donate online, visit: criticalcareontheair.ca.

Every time the #STARSCareOnTheAir hashtag is used, Saskatchewan Blue Cross will donate $100 up to $10,000.

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cjnb-news@pattisonmedia.com