The 2020 STARS Lottery Dream Home in Lethbridge (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Priority Mission

STARS launches annual fundraising Lottery

Jan 16, 2020 | 1:45 PM

Calgary-area resident Stu Wilson says he wouldn’t be here today if STARS Air Ambulance wasn’t there for him in August of 1997.

“I certainly was a critical injury patient,” he recalls. “I was returning to Calgary from Saskatoon on Highway 9, and about 20 kilometres east of Hanna, a young lady fell asleep, crossed the yellow line and hit me head-on. She and a passenger were killed instantly, I was in critical condition.”

Fortunately, Wilson says Hanna EMS and fire department was able to get him out of his truck and take him by ground ambulance to the hospital in Hanna, where he was stabilized before transport by STARS to Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary.

“I remember distinctly being put into the back of the helicopter,” says Wilson. “I remember distinctly talking to my nurse. I’ll always remember her words. She said Stu, you’re safe. You’re with us now.”

Following surgery in hospital, Wilson says his body was significantly different than prior to the crash.

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“There’s no question that I would not have survived a land ambulance trip from Hanna into the Foothills hospital,” declares Wilson. “STARS really did save my life.”

Your chance to help give someone else a second chance at life, and perhaps change yours in the process, is available through the 27th Annual Alberta STARS Lottery which launched on Thursday.

This year’s lottery features 2,575 prizes valued at over $4.9 million, including vacations, vehicles, and the event’s largest Early Bird prize ever of $1 million. Dream homes in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge are also up for grabs.

STARS spokesperson Mike Haska says the lottery is a huge fundraiser for them.

“It raises about $11 million every year, and that’s about a third of our operating funds,” Haska explains. “It’s really crucial fundraising to keeping STARS in the air. The support is what makes the missions possible.”

Despite a sluggish economy, Haska remains hopeful Albertans will show their support for the lottery once again this year.

“STARS has been around since 1985, and we’ve weathered all kinds of economic conditions from very good days, to very challenging ones,” he shares. “All we can do is just show our appreciation and our gratitude to the community who has always been there to support STARS. The fact is, we wouldn’t be here without community support and that’s in good times and bad.”

Phil Haworth, captain and pilot for STARS, says about 60 missions were flown in the Red Deer area last year.

“That was our second-highest in the province,” says Haworth. “Lethbridge and Red Deer are high volume users. They’re number one and two mostly.”

Haska points out that Red Deer is also in a unique situation with its geographic location.

“It’s serviced from both our Calgary and Edmonton locations, so we’ll see missions dispatched from either of our bases to support Red Deer, based on the patient’s needs,” he explains.

Tickets are $30 each or three for $60, six for $100, or 20 for $275. With a ticket purchase deadline of Mar. 19, final draws will take place Apr. 2. According to Lottery officials, last year’s payout was $2 million.

Visit www.starslottery.ca or call 1-888-880-0992 to purchase tickets.