The preliminary results are in. After braving the elements Thursday to raise funds for STARS through the annual Rescue on the Prairie event, five local business leaders helped to raise $506,388 and counting.

The five were airlifted to a remote location with the goal of raising $50,000 each in order to be “rescued” and earn their flight back home. Each competitor took on a series of challenges and made phone calls to friends, family and colleagues to help them reach their fundraising goal. There was a readiness challenge to see who could suit up fastest and race to the helicopter and another was obstacle course-style medical challenge where the participants had to make a tourniquet.

Participant Shayne Dueck, who won four of six challenges, says, ” It was humbling to see such generosity pouring in from people, businesses and communities across Saskatchewan that understand the importance of STARS, and that their presence in the province can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.” Donations will continue to be collected to be added to the final total.

This year’s participants included Ashley Turner, realtor with Century 21 Fusion; Bryan Somerville, president of Somerville Farms Ltd.; Kendra Wack, founder and executive director of Degree Three; Reagan McGrath, vice president of sales for Western Sales; and Shayne Dueck, business advisor for MNP. Each participant was paired with a STARS air medical crew member who supported them throughout the day.