The STARS Air Ambulance helps save lives in rural Saskatchewan, and the service relies heavily on fundraising to continue operating. “An Evening with STARS” will be held in Weyburn on Tuesday, April 9, with funds to help provide a helicopter pad for STARS to land on by the new Weyburn hospital.
Ticket sales are moving fast, say organizers, with three-quarters of the tickets sold as of Monday morning, so residents are urged to get their tickets from the Weyburn Hospital Foundation office or at Pharmasave.
Many families in the southeast have been helped out by STARS, including Jayden Coderre of Stoughton, who was involved in an accident with his dirt bike last October.
His mother, Michelle Bouvier, shared their experience with how STARS helped them out, making clear that the timely service provided by STARS helped to save her son’s life.
The accident occurred late on a Sunday morning, on Oct. 28, when he was riding his dirt bike on a road in front of the Co-op convenience store in Stoughton. He was alongside a semi, which had its turn signal on for making a left turn. Jayden didn’t see the signal, and the truck turned into him, bouncing him into a stop sign.
Fortunately for him, the Stoughton ambulance had their first responders taking a course at the fire hall, which was just a minute away, and they were able to respond right away to treat him. They put in a call for STARS to transport him to hospital, and they determined it would work best to meet at Weyburn where the helicopter would pick him up.
Jayden had several severe injuries, and the timely transport by STARS helped ensure that doctors could begin treating him as soon as he landed at the Regina General Hospital.
He ended up staying in hospital care from Oct. 28 to Dec. 6, and on an ongoing basis he continues to need treatment, seeing a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist. He is now awaiting surgery at a Shriner’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
Jayden has no memory of what happened, including the helicopter ride, as he didn’t wake up until nine days later, but as Michelle noted, “he’s really thankful for STARS.”
The community held a fundraiser for the family, including through a Gofundme page, and everyone has been supportive of the family, she said, and now Jayden wants to pay it forward by helping out anytime somebody has a need and sets up a Gofundme page. He has taken part in a number of fundraisers, and is looking forward to taking part in the one for STARS.
“You just don’t know what it’s like till you go through it,” said Michelle, adding she also is deeply thankful for how STARS was able to help her son.
An Evening with STARS is set to take stage 5:30 p.m. on April 9at McKenna Hall in Weyburn. The affair will host special guests from the STARS Trauma Team, headed by CEO and President Andrea Robertson.
This special fundraising dinner and social evening will also include representatives from local service providers including the Weyburn Police Department, Weyburn Fire Brigade, Weyburn Emergency Medical Services, Weyburn General Hospital staff members and the RCMP detachment, who are stepping up to assist with table service and showcase some of their non-emergency talents.
Glenn Rogers of AM1190 will emcee the evening and Angelo Fresnido and his team at McKenna Catering are already at work planning for a great meal, sure to be enjoyed by all who attend.
There will be time to meet the STARS trauma team members and ask questions in addition to opportunities to bid on special items. All proceeds will go to the Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation as efforts continue to build and equip a new hospital for Weyburn and area.
