STARS lottery launched today offering just over 3,000 prizes worth $4.9 million along with the Lucky STARS 50/50 draw where a buyer can win up to $1.55 million  

The STARS lottery raises over $11 million net each year to help operate the helicopters so they can continue to help critically ill and injured patients across the province.  

One of those patients was Lorinda Bye who said she was left paralyzed after a tree fell on a tent she was sleeping in during a camping trip.

“I was always that person who thought that will never happen to me. I’d read about the stories and my family is a supporter of STARS so we’d see the lottery flyers, we’d see the calendars and you read about all these stories, but I thought it will never happen to me, I’ll never need it. One day I did need it and I know for a fact if it wasn’t for STARS my story would be totally different and I probably wouldn’t even be alive today.”

Executive Director for the STARS foundation, Gurpreet Lail said for the past year every STARS helicopter has proudly displayed a Times are Tough, Albertans are Tougher decal as a symbol of gratitude for the support they receive.  

“Community support is still there absolutely, it’s tougher in these economic climates, but everyone wants to do their part in helping us save lives and allowing us to stay in the air. I have to say that working at STARS has allowed me to see the enormous amount of support Albertans have for this organization.”

This year’s STARS lottery offers four grand prize furnished luxury homes, one in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Lethbridge, worth more than $3.5 million.

There are 760,000 tickets available for the Lucky STARS 50/50 jackpot that could see one person winning up to $1.55 million.

Two early bird prizes are also on the table for those who buy their tickets before the March 1 early bird deadline.

The first is a home away from home package of a 2017 Ram 2500 Crew Cab 4X4 and 2017 Arctic Fox 28F Travel Trailer worth $127,983 retail. The second early bird prize is $50,000 cash.

In addition to the grand prizes and early bird prizes, there are six vehicles to be won.

The winners of each vehicle can choose to take the vehicle or the cash value. Total retail value of all six vehicles is $289,992 retail.

There are also 24 vacations, 1,578 electronic prizes and 1,465 other prizes including cash, luggage, camping and home and outdoor prizes.

Among these are two prizes in which the winners will enjoy the flight of a lifetime aboard a STARS helicopter.

Buyers are eligible for all prize draws if tickets are purchased prior to the applicable deadlines.

All winning tickets go back into the drum for all draws.

Tickets are available at starslotteryalberta.ca or by calling 1-888-880-0992. Ticket prices are a single ticket for $25, 3 for $60, 6 for $100 and 18 for $250.

The early bird draw is March 17 with ticket sales cut off March 1 at midnight. The final draw is set for April 13 with ticket sales cut off at midnight on March 22.

If tickets sell out prior to the early bird deadline, all draws will begin on March 20 with approval from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.

The Lucky STARS 50/50 draw will be held April 10.