(L-R) STARS captain pilot Josh Brewster, flight nurse Stuart Grant, flight paramedic Dave Allison, captain pilot Mike Janke. (Submitted photo/STARS, Lyle Aspinall)

By paNOW Staff

STARS Radiothon

STARS upcoming mission moves from the air to the airwaves

Apr 14, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Paulette and Milt Mastad know firsthand just how important STARS air ambulance is to the province.

Milt was cared for and transported by STARS a few years ago after he sustained critical traumatic injuries when bucked off of his horse. The Mastads were STARS supporters before the incident, viewing their donations as a bit of an extra insurance policy. Now, they’re encouraging others to do the same.

“Just keep donating. Its so worth it. You don’t think you’re going to need it, but when you do, you’re sure thankful,” said Paulette.

The public will have the opportunity to support STARS by listening and donating to the first ever Critical Care on the Air radiothon, presented by GMS Health and Travel Insurance, next week. The two-day event will be broadcast from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 21 and 22 on 28 radio stations throughout the province, including those within Pattison Media in Saskatchewan.

“This exciting fundraising event will shine a light on the life-saving work STARS carries out every day across Saskatchewan and will feature inspiring stories from STARS crew, patients and their families,” said Terri Strunk, STARS chief fundraising and brand officer. “The radiothon will also illustrate how support from businesses, community organizations and individuals makes STARS’ critical care missions possible.”

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Milt Mastad is a donor and a former patient of STARS air ambulance. (Submitted photo/STARS)

Money raised from the radiothon will go toward the purchase of two new cardiac monitors and support ongoing operations at STARS bases in Regina and Saskatoon. The province covers about 50 per cent of the cost needed to operate the air ambulance service, but the not-for-profit charity has to raise the remaining $10.5 million annually. They expect the impact the pandemic will have on the organization to be significant since it’s prevented several fundraising events from happening. So, every dollar raised from the radiothon will make a difference in their mission of saving lives.

“STARS was built by the community for the community and when you support STARS, you ride along with us on every mission,” said Strunk. “Please tune into the radiothon to learn more about the work we do and how we need your help to continue fighting for the lives of patients when they need us most, in communities across the province.”

STARS carries out an average of eight missions per day across Western Canada and flew 884 missions in Saskatchewan in the last year alone. It’s the first helicopter air ambulance service in Canada to begin stocking blood in advance for live-saving transfusions on air medical missions.

GMS will be matching the first $50,000 of donations made. Every time the social media hashtag #STARScareontheair is used, Stride Management will donate $100 up to $10,000. The public is invited to donating during the radiothon next week by calling the Viterra Lifeline at 1-877-507-8277 or by visiting criticalcareontheair.ca.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow