STARS crew ready for action. A fundraising goal of $500,000 has been set for the Critical Care on the Air radiothon. (Submitted photo/STARS)

By Glenn Hicks

fundraising

Radiothon for STARS in Saskatchewan set for next month

Mar 17, 2021 | 2:19 PM

It’s an emergency service this province can be proud of. It has already touched many lives and will undoubtedly touch many others, and in the weeks ahead the public will learn a lot more about the special work that STARS does.

Saskatchewan’s radio stations, including those of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, are gearing up to combine their efforts for the Critical Care on the Air radiothon in support of STARS.

The two-day on-air special will run April 21 and 22 from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. to ‘Keep The Fight in Flight.’

The media event, presented by GMS Health and Travel Insurance, aims to raise $500,000. All funds will stay in Saskatchewan to keep STARS in the sky and operational. Among the items that will be funded are cardiac monitors. These critical devices are used on every patient flown by STARS.

From now through to the radiothon radio listeners will hear stories from crew, allies, health care professionals and perhaps most importantly, the people who have been directly touched by the life-saving work STARS carries out every day across Saskatchewan.

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These emotional stories from VIPs (Very Important Patients) and their families who have been flown by STARS can also be viewed on a website that has been created for the event.

Among those stories are ones like Carrie Derin’s whose life was saved after she sustained severe internal injuries in a quad accident.

“When you see that helicopter in the sky, know that it’s holding angels and carrying the best gift of all—life!” she says in a video on the website.

Or how about little Shaylee Belke who was seriously injured after being kicked in the stomach by a horse? She was taken by STARS helicopter to a trauma unit.

“You look at her today, and she’s back to her vibrant little self,” Shaylee’s dad Brad says. “It was scary not knowing what the outcome could be, but she turned out perfect again.”

For Milt Mastad, who was flown to trauma care after being seriously injured in a riding accident, STARS’ reach is universal.

“I guarantee that everybody in the province already knows somebody or are going to know somebody who’ll need the service,” he says.

STARS provides critical care to those that work, play, visit, and live in Saskatchewan and across the prairies.(Submitted photo/STARS)

So, get buckled in for the ride as the countdown to the radiothon starts, and get ready to play your part in support of the cause.

“As a group, we are really excited to be involved with raising money for STARS air ambulance,” Danny Kid, Program Director with the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group said. “STARS is a much-needed service in our part of the country and one I wouldn’t want to be without. Join us and consider making a donation.”

To make that all-important donation a special phone number will be made available for the two days of the radiothon, or head to the donation website: criticalcareontheair.ca

As the STARS organization puts it in a message that will be key during this big fundraiser: ‘Every Life is Worth Fighting For.’

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @princealbertnow