Weyburn businessman Dan Cugnet is aiming to make a big impact in his fundraising efforts for the STARS Air Ambulance service, as he has now doubled his initial goal.
Cugnet will be one of six people chosen from around the province who will take part in the STARS’ “Rescue on the Prairies” fundraiser on Thursday, Aug. 24.
The initial goal for each of the fundraiser participants was to raise $50,000, and once Cugnet reached that goal, he upped it to $75,000, which he reached on Wednesday. He has decided to up it again to $100,000, and is working to raise this amount.
“They will take us from Saskatoon and drop us in an undisclosed location, and we won’t get rescued from there until we’ve raised our goal,” said Cugnet.
“I think throughout the course of the day, we’ll have events and challenges for us to try and raise more funds for this great cause,” he added.
Cugnet became involved after he met Denise Belman, the executive director of the STARS Foundation, as they took an education course through the Institute of Corporate Directors, and then later talked to her while attending the SARM convention in March. Cugnet then attended a gala event for STARS at the end of March, and the opportunity to be part of this annual fundraiser was presented to him, as the foundation wanted someone to represent southeast Saskatchewan.
Oilman Ron Carson had taken part in this fundraiser in its inaugural year, so Cugnet called him up and talked to him about what was involved in the event.
“He was very generous in giving me some advice and helping me lay out a strategy to take this on,” he said. “So far, the response has been overwhelming.”
Cugnet said the support he’s received has come from all sorts of individuals and businesses, including the residents and staff of Liberty Manor who did a fundraiser for him, and people who have had family members transported by STARS for medical treatment.
The level of response from local and area residents “speaks to southeast Saskatchewan and how we support things that are important, because of us being in rural Saskatchewan,” he said, noting the need for such a vital air transport service is very important for communities and residents.
“To me, it’s vitally important to support STARS for this province with the distances we travel each day, and the weather we deal with here,” added Cugnet.
He noted STARS will provide the participants with their own “Rescue on the Prairies” flight suit, as they are counting on the participants to help raise awareness of STARS and the need for support to keep providing their services.
“That’s where Mr. Carson was very helpful. The idea is to raise as much money for STARS as possible,” he said.
If anyone would like to contribute towards Cugnet’s campaign for STARS, they can go to the STARS website and click onto Rescue on the Prairies, and the photos of the participants will come up. Go to Cugnet’s photo and click on “Rescue Me”, and you will be directed to how you can donate to this cause.
“It’s a great organization, and we’re lucky to have them in Saskatchewan,” said Cugnet, who paid tribute to those who have contributed towards his efforts in this fundraiser.
“The success of this fundraiser very much speaks volumes of the community we live in,” he added.
