STARS HOME LOTTERY
Funds for vital service
Dale Becker is a frequent flyer — but not on your average airline.
Becker, a retired grain farmer from Rocanville likes to joke that he is a frequent flyer with STARS Air Ambulance Service having used their services twice before in his life.
In September 2013 Becker was well into the midst of harvest when he thought he had the flu. After a visit to the hospital in Moosomin, he was diagnosed with a torn aortic dissection, and STARS was called to transport him to Regina.
Becker spent six months in the hospital after that, but in December 2014 he found himself in a STARS helicopter again. He had fluid in his system and the doctors wanted to put in a pacemaker. STARS transported him to Regina for that surgery.
“I couldn’t have done it without (STARS), I know I wouldn’t be here,” he said.
On Wednesday, STARS launched their fifth annual home lottery at their grand prize show home for Regina in Pilot Butte.
The home lottery is the biggest fundraiser for STARS in Saskatchewan. The organization has a partnership with the provincial government, which provides 49 per cent of STARS funding. However, that leaves STARS to fundraise the rest their operating costs which come to around $11 million per year.
Fundraising is done through events like the home lottery, galas and golf tournaments. Separate community groups across the province also fundraise, with private and corporate companies donating, too.
STARS provides specialized emergency medical care and transportation for critically ill and injured patients across the province. In a province like Saskatchewan with a widely dispersed population, time is an important factor when it comes to health care.
“There are lots of times when lives are saved because we can land in remote areas and transport them to a higher of level care more quickly,” said Mark Oddan, communications lead for STARS Saskatchewan.
Each STARS helicopter is set up like a mini intensive care unit, with a critical care paramedic and nurse on board.
“We often say that, in essence, we are bringing the hospital to the patient and starting that care while they are in the air, not waiting ’til they get to the advanced care centre,” Oddan said.
The service is still fairly new to Saskatchewan, having only been here for four years. Since then, it has made more than 3,300 patient transfers from nearly 500 communities across the province. On average STARS makes three patient transports per day.
This year’s home lottery features two grand prize show homes, one each in Regina and Saskatoon, valued at $1.5 million. There are 2,019 prizes valued at more than $4 million along with a 50/50 draw also.
Tickets are available until July 20 and can be purchased at wwww. starslotterysaskatchewan.ca or 1-855-449-2444.
I couldn’t have done it without (STARS), I know I wouldn’t be here, DALE BECKER, a retired grain farmer from Rocanville