Smoky Lake hosts second successful STARS fundraiser

By Brandie Majeau
The second annual STARS Fundraising Dinner hosted by the Smoky Lake
Agricultural Society was an enormous success, attracting four hundred attendees. The
event was held to support STARS Air Ambulance, which provides vital emergency
medical assistance to the people of Alberta. The fundraiser guests were treated to a
scrumptious meal and enjoyed an evening filled with fun and excitement. The fundraiser
featured both live and silent auctions, raffles, and 50/50 draws, offering the guests a
chance to win exciting prizes while supporting a worthy cause.
The evening culminated in a dance where the guests could dance the night away
to the music of the Ryan Snow Band. Everyone had a wonderful time, and the event
was a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and show their support
for such an important cause.
STARS Air Ambulance is a non-profit organization that plays a critical role in
providing immediate, advanced medical care to critically ill or injured patients across the
province of Alberta and is available 24/7, 365 days a year. In the 2022-23 fiscal year,
STARS flew 3,365 missions from their six bases in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and
Manitoba. STARS is funded by community donations and corporate partners, and its
services are provided at no cost to patients or their families.
The organization was founded in 1985 in Calgary by Dr. Gregory Powell and
other physicians. The tragic death of a pregnant woman in a rural community due to
blood loss, leaving a father with a newborn baby, led to the establishment of STARS.
The founders of STARS were determined to prevent such undue deaths and committed
themselves to ensuring that no one would be without critical care in life-threatening
situations, regardless of their location.
Thanks to the generosity of the attendees, the Smoky Lake Agricultural Society
Stars Fundraiser raised an impressive $10,000. The funds raised will go a long way in
supporting the valuable work done by the STARS Air Ambulance in providing
emergency medical care.