For the second straight year, a resident of southeast Saskatchewan will participate in the Rescue on the Prairie fundraiser for the STARS Air Ambulance.
Tina Bird, who in Estevan and works at AECOM’s Lampman office, has agreed to participate in the benefit, which will occur on Sept. 15.
Bird and other participants will be flown by a STARS helicopter to a remote, undisclosed location in the province, and armed with a smartphone, will contact people they know to raise money for STARS. Each person has a $50,000 goal.
Last year, Lampman’s Ron Carson, the founder of Carson Energy Services (now part of AECOM), participated in Rescue on the Prairie and raised more than $215,000 for STARS. He approached Bird, who is an environmental health and safety advisor with AECOM, to participate in the fundraiser.
Just before Carson asked her to be involved, a fellow AECOM employee was transported by STARS to Regina.
The care STARS provided for that co-worker was a factor in Bird’s decision to be part of the fundraiser.
“I thought ‘What a huge honor and opportunity to raise funds and awareness for STARS’,” she said. “STARS is a valuable asset that is available to all citizens who need the service, especially in rural areas.”
She has enjoyed a head start for her fundraising, as she has collected $5,170 in donations, which is more than 10 per cent of her goal.
On the day of the event, Bird and the other participants will contact their friends and ask them for support. They will also participate in a series of fun competitions and challenge themselves.
“I will also be bringing a few of my famous homemade baked goodies to persuade potential donors and sooth whatever savage beasts I may come across,” she said in a bio on the STARS website.
When Bird and her fellow challengers meet or exceed their fundraising goals, they will be “rescued” by helicopter and brought back to civilization.
Carson has already talked to Bird about what to expect during the day, but she noted there have been changes made for this year’s event.
Bird has numerous events planned, including a barbecue on July 27 at the No Frills parking lot in Estevan. There will also be a barbecue and live auction at the STARS hangar in Regina on August 18.
“It’s a chance for people that have never been to the hangar before to have a tour, and they’ll have the helicopter there, barring it doesn’t have to go on a call out,” said Bird.
She hopes to have lots of people from southeast Saskatchewan at the hangar event.
They are still accepting items for a live auction on Aug. 18.
A barbecue will also take place in Lampman in early September.
“There are a couple more that we’re looking at,” Bird told Lifestyles. “A possible online auction, and then there are a couple other activities we’re looking at, possibly a pie in the eye and a dunk tank event.”
And, of course, she’ll be selling some of her goodies as a fundraiser.
Bird has been involved with many community groups, events and fundraisers in the southeast over the years. She received the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal in 2015.
She said she knew about STARS before agreeing to join up with Rescue on the Prairie, thanks to her work with Carson’s campaign last year, and the knowledge she has picked up through her other community involvements. But she is looking forward to learning more about STARS through this event.
The other confirmed participants are Poundmaker AG Ventures president Brad Wildeman, Saskatchewan Volunteer Fighters Association president Doug Lapchuk and Western Sales president and CEO Grant McGrath.
STARS raises 50 per cent of its annual budget in Saskatchewan – about $10.5 million – to operate its bases in Regina and Saskatoon. With the financial support of colleagues, businesses, friends and family, the rescued community leaders in last year’s event raised over $440,000 for STARS in this province.
For more information on the event, or to make a pledge, visit www.rescueontheprairie.com.
