STARS Air Ambulance will be holding its first-ever Critical Care on the Air radiothon across Saskatchewan from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 21 and 22 including 800 CHAB and Mix 103. 

The goal is to raise $500,000 for the critical services that STARS supplies. 

Along with operational costs, STARS is also looking towards purchasing two cardiac monitors for the Saskatoon and Regina bases. 

The Government of Saskatchewan provides about $10.5 million each year for STARS operations, which covers about half of the expenses. 

Darcy McKay is a provincial director for STARS Air Ambulance and a flight paramedic. He said how it is more important than ever to give. 

“Especially with the pandemic, it's really changed the ways we've had to do things. We've had to pivot and look at other opportunities and ideas. Usually, we have nice big gala events and we can no longer do that,” McKay said. 

Fundraising efforts for the radiothon are already underway with six VIPs, or Very Important Patients, holding fundraisers in different areas in the province. 

Milt Mastad is one of those VIPs. 

After a career as a professional hockey player, including playing junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors from 1993-95, Mastad is now a rancher in the Cadillac area. About four years ago, he split his pelvis while riding his horse and needed the assistance of STARS. 

"The role that STARS played for me that day, it was simply huge. For a guy that didn't know that my life was at risk and for them to come save me, pretty much every day of our lives we talk about it,” Mastad said. 

Donations of the six VIPs can be made on the STARS Air Ambulance website. 

On average STARS flies eight missions each day across western Canada and flew 884 missions in Saskatchewan last year. 

Along with making donations through the website, donations can also be made by calling the Viterra Lifeline at 1-877-507-8277 during the radiothon.