It's day two of our Sunny 94 Critical Care on the Air STARS Radiothon, and we'd like to turn some focus on one very important patient who used his STARS experience to start a new business right here in Lacombe helping those who are in similar situations as he is.  

Jason Lunn was paralyzed from the chest down when he was rear-ended by a semi on the QE2 ten years ago, and since then he's dedicated himself to helping others overcome their obstacles and help adjust to their new lives while also helping to raise money for the red helicopter.

“We decided to do a Dinner and Diamonds for the ladies and donate back to STARS. We can’t do that this year because of the COVID, so they’re doing a Radiothon, that’s why we are here… there’s many people here in Central Alberta that has used the service and might need to use the service, and we need to help them out.”

Lunn, AKA Jigger from Team Jigger doesn’t remember much from the collision, which was happened right by The Track on 2.

“There’s a few things that I remember, not a whole lot. After I was hit, I remember the EMS, fire department, of course I know most of the guys, they were saying ‘hang in there Jigger, hang in there we got ya, we got ya’, and when they got me out of the vehicle into the helicopter, the only thing I remember from the helicopter ride was my arm was cold, and don’t remember much after that until I spoke with my wife at the Glenrose (rehabilitation hospital) before surgery.”

Lunn was left a complete c6-c6 quadriplegic with no feeling from the chest down.

He has since started the Team Jigger Foundation, with a building right here in Lacombe. It was a goal of Lunn’s once he got out of the hospital to create an information and rehab hub dedicated to anybody who needs help to overcome any mobility issue they may have.

“A facility for everybody, no matter your age or ability, to be able to have an information hub, a rehab hub to overcome accessible issues and to help people maintain a quality of life and give them a new normal.”

When it comes to the importance of STARS, Lunn puts it quite simply: If they weren’t flying, there would be a lot of people who wouldn't be alive today.

“I mean it’s a great organization, and after they fly you to the hospital they become your family. They stay connected with you. There’s lots I could say, but people just need to donate and know there is somebody that they know, or will know, that’s gonna need STARS at some point.”

The Radiothon continues until 6 pm Friday evening. If you would like to donate to STARS Air Ambulance you can give them a call 1-877-50-STARS, by texting STARS to 45678, or click here to donate directly from our website.

Jason Lunn outside his Team Jigger building in Lacombe. Photo courtesy of the Team Jigger Facebook page.