INNISFAIL - The Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion has once again stepped up huge for the long-standing lifesaving service of STARS air ambulance.
Last month the legion gave STARS a cheque for $5,000. Since 1985, legion branches from across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have donated more than $1.84 million to STARS, with Innisfail's Branch 104 pitching in with $255,596.99.
"The legion feels STARS is a very important part of our lives, and an important part of the community," said Joan Miller, first vice-president of the Innisfail Legion. "The legion will continue to support this worthy cause."
According to the records of Kathryn Vincent, senior development officer (major gifts) of the STARS Foundation, Innisfail's total donations are the most of any western Canadian legion branch, with the Olds Legion being the second-highest donor.
"We are grateful to Branch 104 for their support over the years," said Vincent. "We wouldn't be able to continue the lifesaving missions without the support of Branch 104 and the Innisfail community."
Vincent, who came to town last month to receive the donation, said STARS has flown more than 70 missions out of the Innisfail area over the past year, a "50-50" combination of transferring people from the local hospital to larger centres (Edmonton and Calgary), and responding to scene/accident calls.
She said latest STARS statistics show nearly 40,000 missions have been made since 1985 across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and into some parts of B.C. STARS' service operates out of bases in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg.
Vincent noted STARS launched a major new multi-year project last month to replace its aging fleet of 11 BK117 and AW139 helicopters with nine new Airbus H145 medically equipped aircraft. The projected cost for each new aircraft is about $13 million.
The non-profit agency will seek funding support from communities and government partners to purchase the new fleet. The current fleet will be sold off once the new helicopters arrive, with those monies going towards the cost of the new aircraft. The first new helicopter is expected to arrive in Calgary next year, with another four in three Alberta bases over the next five years.
