The Saskatchewan agriculture community raised $725,000 for Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service’s air ambulance service July 21 at the ninth annual Field of STARS event in Saskatoon.
The event, presented by Pioneer, was held alongside Ag in Motion. Over the past nine years, the agriculture community has raised more than $4 million for STARS.
Funds raised help keep the organization’s helicopters and crews ready for critical care transport, according to the charity.
Dr. John Froh, president and CEO of STARS, thanked the agriculture community for its support.
“Farmers are the cornerstone of Canada. The work they do is hard, relentless, and matters deeply,” said Froh.
Froh said the agriculture community made time to support STARS despite long hours at this time of year.
STARS VIP patient Chad Rogers shared his story at the event. Rogers was baling hay when the tractor’s emergency brake failed and it began to roll. He tried to climb the ladder to reach it but couldn’t get there in time. The tractor and a 907-kilogram baler ran him over.
Rogers said he often wonders what would have happened without the charity.
“The only answer I can come up with is that people died or did not get a chance at the recovery that I had,” said Rogers.
STARS operates around the clock from six bases across Western Canada, including Saskatoon and Regina.
The charity says every dollar raised helps ensure a helicopter is ready for the next patient who needs one.
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