Over the next two days, 90 western-Canadian radio stations will be taking part in the STARS Critical Care on the Air Radiothon.

Aviation Base Manager for STARS Air Ambulance Barry Tolmie says STARS relies heavily on donations to keep operations going.

“The donor dollars that are coming in keep us funded and keeps us in the air for the patients that need us. Everybody that donates a little bit, your money is going directly to operations.”

Last year, STARS flew just under 1000 missions in Saskatchewan alone, reaching patients in need or urgent medical care in every corner of the province.

“People ask where we respond to. We respond to where there is a need for our service. Something that’s far away that airplanes maybe (can’t respond to) that’s way up north, we’ve been up to Stanley Mission to pull people out during the fires, because the helicopter was the one that could get up there and could get back when the smoke was stopping everything else.”

Tolmie says although STARS transported nearly 1000 patients last year in the province, the Air Ambulance has touched the lives of thousands more over its 41 years of service.

“Yes, we transported that one patient, but that one patient is connected to so many people. That, for me, is what keeps me coming back…Mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, family and friends are all connected to that one person.”

Country 600 CJWW and 98 Cool are two of 90 western-Canadian radio stations taking part in the radiothon. To donate, call in or head to give.stars.ca.