A group of Manitoba business and community leaders will be stranded on an island Sept. 6 for a good cause as STARS hosts Rescue on the Island 2018.

The organization’s largest one-day fundraiser in Manitoba, Rescue on the Island has raised more than $1.4 million in the last five years thanks to the tremendous support of STARS allies in the province.

Five Manitobans have taken up the challenge in 2018 and will be stranded on Carter Island in the Whiteshell area of the province. To secure their “rescue” and return to civilization, they need to fundraise as much as possible from the island using their mobile phones and personal networks.

This year’s brave participants are:

  • Cheryl McKitrick, Lion’s Club member and Registered Nurse
  • James Wall, Service Manager, Janzen Chevrolet, Winkler
  • Furlon Barker, Hollow Water First Nation, Councillor
  • Roberta Galbraith, Member Relations Manager, Manitoba Canola Growers
  • Rocky Neufeld, Appraiser, Colliers International Realty Advisors

“As a Registered Nurse for 35 years in a small rural hospital, I’ve seen that time is of the essence when dealing with people’s lives in an emergency situation,” said McKitrick, who is also Vice-Chair of the Southern Health-Sante Sud board of directors. “STARS can give all the emergency care someone would require in a timely manner.”

STARS Development Officer, Events, Lori Derksen said Rescue on the Island remains vitally important to STARS operations in the province.

“With more than 700 missions in the past fiscal year, we know there is a need for the service STARS provides to critically ill and injured Manitobans,” Derksen said. “The funds raised during Rescue on the Island will help ensure that STARS is there for next person that requires our service during a medical emergency or traumatic event.”

To support any of the five Rescue participants go to www.rescueontheisland.ca and click on the individual pages to select the participant you would like to contribute to.

Rescue on the Island is the second of three “rescue” fundraisers for STARS this year with Alberta’s CEO Rescue in the Rockies held in June and Rescue on the Prairies in Saskatchewan on Sept. 13.

STARS will bring in a backup helicopter for this event, leaving the active on-duty aircraft mission ready at the Winnipeg base.