Get me off the island
Colin Penner, School of Agriculture, raises funds for STARS air ambulance
On September 15, 2015, a group of brave Manitoba community leaders will climb onboard the STARS air ambulance helicopter for a unique mission – the CEO Rescue on the Island.
Each will compete to raise as much money as possible to earn a flight back to civilization, using the only tool they’ll have – their cell phones. The intrepid participants will undertake a variety of challenges on the remote island to help secure their escape.
Colin Penner, a farm management instructor in the School of Agriculture, is one of this year’s team of seven fundraisers. He values the service that the STARS program provides.
“In any emergency event minutes are precious. I believe that everyone should have access to a speedy response in the event of a medical emergency. Because my family and I live, work, play and travel in rural Manitoba daily I want to help ensure that STARS will be available if the need ever arises. A farm can be a risky place to work and live, there is a lot of time spent working alone and off the beaten path. I hope that I never see a STARS helicopter ambulance on my farm or at a neighbour’s yard but it gives me peace of mind knowing that it is available if the situation were to ever arise.”
More than $555,000 has been raised during the past two Rescue on the Island fundraisers. STARS is a charitable organization that cares for and transports critically ill injured patients. They currently average 1.5 missions per day in Manitoba with an average cost of nearly $5,500 per flight.