STARS Rescue in the North event 2023, photos by EverythingGP Staff

By Erika Rolling

Community

STARS Rescue in the North fundraiser is happening today

Oct 4, 2023 | 12:32 PM

UPDATE: The six participants in this fund-raiser collected more than $590,000, well above the original goal of $400,000.

For the first time in history, STARS annual fundraising event is at their northernmost base.

Grande Prairie is hosting STARS Rescue in the North, today. (October, 4)

Six participants representing the community and companies that have large workforces in the region are going through a series of aviation, medical, and other challenges to fundraise for the non-profit organization’s operations in Alberta.

Presenting sponsor Hammerhead Resources presented an $80,000 cheque to kick off the event.

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This year’s participants are:

• Allen Caron, President & CEO of Caron Measurements & Controls Ltd.
• Brent North, Owner of North Realty
• Dustin Hoffman, Chief Operating Officer of Pipestone Energy
• Jeremy St. Laurent, Owner of Liquid Edge Oilfield
• Paul Driedger, Corporate Manager & Estimator of FTEN Group of Companies Inc.
• Rob Adair, Division, Vice President of Horizon North

Participants start at the bases’ hangar near the Grande Prairie Airport, doing challenges, and are then flown out to a remote location to fundraise more.

STARS Chief Fundraising Brand Officer, Terrie Strunk, says each participant is tasked to raise $50,000 to earn their flight back from the remote location to the hangar.

“We are hoping to see $250,000 to $300,000, plus there is a fundraising gala this evening and out goal is about $400,000 for this event.”

She notes it costs around $10.5 million annually for STARS operations in the province, half of which is covered by government partners.

The public can help “rescue” participants by donating online at rescueinthenorth.ca to meet their fundraising goal.

Participants head to the helicopter to do checks before flying to remote location.

Strunk says the community support has been amazing so far.

“We have to fundraise the rest and with three bases in the province of Alberta, that’s $15 million dollars a year. So this private funding and through events like this, or our annual Alberta lottery, calendar sales, and regular donations for individuals across the province helps support the private funding we need to raise annually.”

“STARS missions in this area are super important and that’s why we believed it was very important to come here and hold this event.”

She says the reasoning behind holding the event in Grande Prairie is because of the workforce and the amount of flights done out of the base every year.

The event will wrap up tonight with a sold-out gala, A Night with STARS, where more fundraising will take place.