The 2017 STARS Lottery is here and tickets are going fast towards a cause that all of us may take for granted.

When a STARS Air Ambulance is called in, it can mean life or death for those seriously hurt and one way or another it affects us all.

Spokesperson with STARS Fatima Khawaga says there was plenty of calls to the Foothills in 2016.

"Just last year we flew around 1800 plus missions including 21 times to Strathmore, 14 to Claresholm, 17 to High River, Longview/Millarville 6 missions, 15 to Black Diamond and six to Okotoks," she says.

Khawaga adds that the event is more than just another charity fundraiser.

"It's not just those people that were flown but many Albertans have been touched by STARS when you start factoring in not just the patients but families, friends and co-workers. At the end of the day when one person is airlifted from the community the whole community gets affected as a whole."

Those that buy into the lottery can win potentially over 3,000 prizes valued at a total of $4.9 million.

"The STARS lottery is our single largest fundraiser," Khawaga says.  "It brings in about 11 million dollars net and when you think about that it takes about 10 million dollars to run a STARS base. So quite a direct correlation."

The prizes include four dream home draws in Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge & Calgary. Two early bird draws of truck & trailer along with $50,000 up for grabs along with the Lucky Stars 50/50 where one winner could take home $1.55 million.

Tickets are $25 each, 3 for $60, 6 for $100 & 18 for $250.

To buy your tickets follow the link.

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