STARS lottery kicks off bid to raise $12M

Alberta STARS Air Ambulance officials are hoping for a quicker lottery liftoff after a few years of recession-challenged fundraising.

The life-saving service launched its annual lottery campaign Thursday, an effort aiming to raise up to $12 million, or about one-third of their budget, said spokesman Mike Haska. “That’s the equivalent of the cost of running one of our three Alberta bases,” he said.

Buffeted by the economic downturn, the lottery fell just short of a sellout last year, moving 99.7 per cent of tickets.

“We’ve felt that and heard it from our colleagues in the non-profit sector but, at the end of the day, the community comes through in the good times and bad,” said Haska. “We’ve seen some positive signs.” Among the lottery’s grand prizes are three homes, including one in Calgary dubbed “The Winston” by Trico Homes, located at 370 Sherwood Blvd. N.W. and valued at $948,000.

There’s also a $500,000 cash Dream Fund, travel and car prizes, as well as the Lucky Stars 50-50 draw, which currently sits at more than $2.3 million.

The lottery’s early bird deadline is midnight Feb. 28, and March 22 for all other entries.

Last year, STARS flew 1,529 missions from its bases in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie.

For more information on the lottery, go to starslotteryalberta.ca