HELPING THE LIFESAVERS
STARS lottery home open for tours
As Jean-Francois Bussieres describes, “minutes counted.”
He credits STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) for saving his life, taking him from Banff to Calgary, following a medical emergency in April 2015.
“Even with everyone’s fast action, without a STARS helicopter in the air, I would not be here,” he said, during the launch of the 25th edition of the STARS lottery.
“My mission was a direct result of the lottery and its supporters,” Bussieres added.
This year’s lottery offers 3,034 prizes, valued at $4.7 million.
Bussieres has Type 1 diabetes and was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis.
“A regular blood sugar averages around seven,” he said. “After eating, it might go up to 10 or 12. Anything over 14.5 has the potential for ketoacidosis. The blood meter in ambulances won’t read anything over 33. At the ER, my blood sugar was 85.
“When I have the opportunity to speak to people who helped save me that day, they say they were just doing their jobs,” he added. “Simply, my supporting the lottery and the STARS crew and equipment, the people who have bought tickets in the past and supported the lottery paid it forward to me and I am glad we can pay it forward to others.”
This year’s grand prizes include three furnished homes. One in Edmonton worth $973,979, one in Lethbridge worth $780,000 and another in Calgary worth $998,000. There’s also a cash prize of $500,000.
The Calgary home is by Trico Homes and part of the community of Beacon Heights in Sherwood, located on 370 Sherwood Blvd. N.W.
Trico general sales manager Ted Tam said the builder is excited to partner with STARS for this year’s lottery.
“At Trico, our founder Wayne Chiu has always said that we should always be using business as a force for doing good, while at the same time, doing well,” Tam said, adding the STARS lottery “is a wonderful way to benefit the community.”
“STARS saves lives every day and we can’t think of a more noble cause to partner up with,” he added.
The Calgary home is Trico’s Winston model, a 2,555-square-foot floor plan with a front-attached, two-car garage. It has four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms abovegrade and an additional bedroom and bathroom in its developed basement.
One of its standout features is that it boasts two kitchens, one being the conventional kind, and another that’s a spice kitchen.
“It’s a wonderful layout for a growing family,” said Tam.
Tickets cost $25 each, or in packages of three for $60, six for $100, and 18 for $250. There are also 50/50 tickets that cost $10 each, or in packages of five for $25, or 15 for $50.
The early bird draw will be March 16 and the final draws are slated for April 12.
For more information, visit starslotteryalberta.ca