Four people who are alive thanks largely to STARS are sharing their stories so others will also have access to that same level of emergency care, if it's needed.

The Saskatchewan Critical Care on the Air Radiothon for STARS runs Tuesday and Wednesday, with Golden West Radio stations across the province taking part.

Caiden Hendry

Caiden Hendry, one of four Very Important Patients, was dirt biking with his family in 2014 (when he was 10). He suffered a compound fracture in his femur.

He was rushed to the Nokomis Health Centre, which was under renovation and didn't have a doctor or any hospital beds.

Hendry lay on the floor for a couple of hours, and STARS was called.

"I was starting to lose consciousness just as they showed up, and it was hard to stay awake. I wouldn't have made it, I don't think. I would have died."

Hendry was able to get back to playing sports and says his leg is problem free.

Karen Roberts

It was April 2018 when Karen Roberts and her family were driving back from a vacation in the United States. They got caught in a treacherous blizzard and collided head-on with another vehicle.

Roberts remembered getting out of the vehicle and then collapsing. Next thing she knew she was in a STARS helicopter.

"You never know what's around the corner. You don't expect this to happen. If the worst comes to worst and it does happen to you, STARS is there for you."

Now Roberts helps support STARS in their life-saving mission by organizing bottle drives and collecting donations.

Kirk Wall

Kirk Wall was working with a horse on what was a peaceful Sunday on his ranch when the horse kicked him across the pen.

What appeared to be a bruise proved to be something worse, as Wall's heart rate started dropping.

His wife Lynette drove him to the hospital. It turned out his spleen had ruptured, and a doctor requested STARS. The doctor told Lynette that her husband may only have minutes to live, and they were really hoping STARS would arrive.

"Saskatchewan's so rural," said Wall, who has fully recovered. "Accidents happen, and we're a long ways away from primary care centres in most of the province... You can get guys from down in the southwest corner of the province, you can get them care within an hour. And that's the critical time for most accidents."

Peggy Benko

Lawyer Peggy Benko collapsed while working in her office in January 2015. She needed immediate surgery after a ruptured brain aneurysm, but the closest trip was a three-hour drive.

STARS pilots determined that it was safe to fly to the hospital to pick her up, despite swirling snow. And the surgery did the trick.

"Every second counts... if it wouldn't have been for STARS, I wouldn't have made it... I wouldn't have seen my son get married, I wouldn't have met my twin granddaughters. My husband, I wouldn't be with him. It gave me life."

You can hear more stories about the impact STARS has in the province on the air during the radiothon.

You can donate online today, or call the Viterra Lifeline on Tuesday and Wednesday at 1-877-50-STARS (1-877-507-8277)