STARS receives half million dollar donation

The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society has received a substantial donation from Western Coal.

Western Coal has announced it will provide STARS with $500,000 over a five-year period. The company presented a cheque to the non-profit organization in Tumbler Ridge, Wednesday.

STARS provides emergency airlifts out of bases in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie. Last year alone, STARS responded to 1,453 calls in both Alberta and eastern B.C.

Western Coal officials say one of the reasons they are donating the money to the team is because one of their own employees was saved in part by the STARS team in December.