STARS Unveils Car at the Centre of Pegasus Project!

After months of anticipation, on June 3rd, the classic car at the centre of the Pegasus Project has finally been unveiled, kicking off its summer “Road Show” to raise funds and awareness for STARS’ fleet renewal campaign to replace its aging fleet of helicopters.

The custom-built 1968 Ford Mustang 427 Coupe galloped into Discovery Ford for its first public appearance, transported in a specially-decaled trailer featuring the project’s celebrity ambassadors, including Saskatoon-born TV, stage and film actor Kim Coates, Saskatchewan-born NHL players Brayden and Luke Schenn, Tyler Bozak and Jayden Schwartz, and former Humboldt Bronco Kaleb Dahlgren.

“Today marks the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication by so many and signals the beginning of the exciting adventure of sharing this project with Saskatchewan,” said Pegasus Project Co-Chair Vaughn Wyant. “It’s an amazing car for an incredible cause, and we’re both passionate and proud to see it here in Humboldt.”

Joining the celebration were business and community leaders who have contributed to the unique project, as well as local and provincial government officials, including Premier Scott Moe.

“STARS has supported over 500 Saskatchewan communities by providing emergency care and transportation for critically ill and injured patients,” Premier Moe said. “Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make this initiative a reality, and I know that communities across this province will return that support as the Pegasus Project embarks on this summer road show for STARS.”

Also speaking at the announcement was the family of Morgan Gobeil, a STARS Very Important Patient, who was cared for and transported by the air ambulance service after the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

“Our family is eternally grateful to STARS for giving Morgan a second chance,” said brother Ryan Gobeil, who will be driving the Pegasus trailer across the province this summer. “We are committed to doing our part to ensure STARS remains in the sky to help others in need when the unthinkable happens.”

To date, the Pegasus Project has generated substantial funds for STARS’ fleet renewal efforts, including contributions of $500,000 each from Conexus Credit Union and MNP. Lakefield Law, Cameco and others have also come on-board as sponsors.

The road show will continue traveling to approx. 30 communities and events across the province, where Prairie Ford Dealers will be raising funds for STARS as well as local first responders. The Mustang will then be sold at the world-famous Barrett-Jackson charity auction in Scottsdale, Arizona in January 2022.

Fleet renewal important for STARS’ sustainability

In 2018, STARS unveiled its multi-year Keep the Fight in Flight capital campaign to renew its fleet of BK117 and AW139 aircraft with nine new, medically-equipped Airbus H145 helicopters, at a cost of CAD $13 million each.

Thanks to government, community and corporate support, the non-profit organization began taking delivery of the state-of-the-art H145 helicopters in 2019. STARS has already flown hundreds of missions in Saskatchewan with the new aircraft.

Although it has millions of dollars left to raise, the charity hopes to wrap up its ambitious fundraising campaign by the end of the year and see the remainder of the new fleet enter service across Western Canada through 2022.

“We’re so grateful that our donors are helping us make a generational investment in a new fleet,” said STARS president and CEO Andrea Robertson. “It’s particularly important during these challenging times.”

“Thanks to the ingenuity and generosity of our business leaders for initiating the Pegasus Project, and to the community for supporting it,” said Robertson. “Because of you, we will be able to fight for the lives of patients across our province and beyond for decades to come.”