SASKATOON — The Canadian agriculture community joined forces with STARS to raise funds at the ninth annual Field of STARS presented by Pioneer, held in conjunction with Ag in Motion.
The Field of STARS event raised $725,000 in support of STARS. Funds raised from the event help ensure STARS helicopters and personnel are able to continue STARS mission of providing critical care and transport on patients’ worst days. Over the past nine years, the agriculture community raised over $4 Million in support of the helicopter air ambulance charity.
“Farmers are the cornerstone of Canada. The work they do is hard, relentless, and matters deeply,” said Dr. John Froh, president and CEO, STARS.
“Despite their around-the-clock hours, Saskatchewan’s agriculture community found the time and resources to support STARS tonight. It is with deep gratitude that we thank them for their meaningful contributions, which helps keep STARS in the sky.”
At the event, STARS very important patient (VIP), Chad Rogers, shared his STARS story of tragedy and resilience. Rogers was baling hay when he stopped at a gate and the tractor’s weak emergency brake clicked off. He ran after it but couldn’t climb up the ladder in time, and the tractor and 907-kg baler ran over him.
“Since my accident, I have often asked myself what we did in critical emergency medical situations before we had STARS, and the only answer I can come up with is that people died or did not get a chance at the recovery that I had,” Rogers said.
