Inside a STARS air ambulance (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Cargill donates $400,000 toward STARS fleet renewal

May 4, 2021 | 11:32 AM

CALGARY, AB – STARS Air Ambulance has received a significant donation from Cargill.

The food corporation has gifted $400,000 to STARS.

The funding will be used by the not-for-profit ambulance organization to help purchase nine new, medically equipped Airbus H145 helicopters at a cost of $13 million each.

The new transports will help STARS deliver critical care to patients in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and parts of British Columbia for the next 30 years or more.

STARS shared the story of Adair O’Grady, a farmer in Saskatchewan who received care and transport from crews in 2015, after he sustained life-threatening injuries while seeding in 2015.

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O’Grady said, “it’s exciting to see the agricultural community step up to support STARS.”

“As I watch my children and my crops grow, I’m incredibly grateful.”

President of Cargill Limited, Jeff Vassart remarked that, “at Cargill the safety of others is guided by our values of putting people first and doing the right thing.”

“Safety extends well beyond our employees to our customers and the communities where we operate. We are proud to support STARS and the critical emergency care they provide to rural and remote communities when it’s needed most.”

STARS has been flying in the new H145 aircraft from two of its bases since mid-2019, thanks to support from government, communities and corporate support of a capital campaign to have the new fleet delivered by 2022.

STARS President and CEO Andrea Robertson stated that, “our supporters ride along with us on every mission, and we’re so thankful our allies are helping us renew out fleet, particularly through these challenging times, when community support is so critical to our operations.”

“These new aircraft are a generational investment in our ability to fight for the lives of Western Canadians for decades to come, and we’re exceedingly thankful to Cargill for their financial support and leadership.”