The local Royal Canadian Legion is blazing new trails to ensure a vital life-saving service is always available for every man and woman in town, the region and beyond.
Innisfail's Branch 104, which reportedly is the third largest legion branch in Canada and second largest in Alberta in terms of membership, is No.1 for legions in raising money for STARS, the air ambulance service that flies out of six bases in Western Canada to help citizens from more than 100 communities.
STARS has flown just under 27,000 missions since 1985, with 1,688 carried out in 2013. Six of those have been to Innisfail to rescue citizens in need.
In just over a decade, Innisfail's legion has raised almost $235,000 – five times more than any other legion in the country. Nationally, the legion has raised more than $1 million.
“We obviously give to more than one charity but as a Benefactor STARS is our biggest charity. Our single biggest payment in any one year is to STARS,” said Arno Glover, the manager of Branch No. 104. “In terms of a branch we have not got any other competition. The next branches, Branch 4, Branch 41 and Branch 223, are all less than $50,000. We are way ahead of the next one down. That is what we are proud about.”
Last month, the Innisfail Legion presented a cheque of $10,000 to STARS. Two of the local presenters – executive member Dale Miller and past- president Jim Rich – have both been emergency STARS passengers.
Miller was saved by STARS air ambulance in 2008 when he had a major heart attack. Rich had a heart attack the following year and was taken to Calgary's Foothills Medical Centre where he was successfully treated. Both men remain forever grateful for the STARS service.
“The whole organization is amazing and if the Innisfail Legion is going to continue to help and support STARS, I will too,” said Miller.
The local legion, which is now classed as a Benefactor fundraiser for STARS (more than $100,000) is now aiming to raise $15,000 in 2014 to reach the Partners class, which is set at $250,000.
Innisfail would then be in the same fundraiser class as such business heavyweights as Agrium, Baker Hughes Canada Company, CIBC, TD Financial Group, along with Rocky View County, City of Lethbridge, the Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation and many others.
“If we are a Partner we will be right up there in terms of how much we have donated to STARS,” said Glover. “Both the legion and STARS play a different, but nevertheless important role in the local community. We are pleased to state that as a Benefactor, STARS remains our foremost fundraising activity. The fact that such organizations exist are a testament to all those that are actively engaged in fundraising events and awareness activities.”
