STARS Ambulance officially kicked off their 2016 lottery Thursday. There are two grand prize show homes up for grabs - one in Saskatoon and one in Pilot Butte.

"It's just a way to kick it off with a bit of a bang for the public and have some of our STARS crew, executives and past patients here to speak about STARS and why the lottery is so important to us," explained Mark Odden, communication lead for Saskatchewan.

STARS featured one of their past patients, Dean Becker of Rocanville, who had two emergency trips in the helicopters.

"You just think it'll never happen to you but it can, my attitude changed," said Becker after he made his speech and spoke about both of his traumatic experiences. He went on to say if it wasn't for the STARS service he wouldn't be here today.

STARS ambulance just recently celebrated their fourth anniversary of being in Saskatchewan.

"In that short time we have completed over 3,300 missions to nearly 500 communities across the province. So when you factor in the families, the friends, the communities.. that's countless lives touched and hundreds of lives saved."

Last year, STARS flew over 1000 missions in the province.

"We really do appreciate and count on that support to keep starts in the air, so we're shooting for another sell out this year," said Odden.

The show home in Pilot Butte is 3,186 square feet, two story walkout and has a three car garage. Four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms and retails for 1.5 million.

The lottery features 2,019 prizes to be won worth more than $4 million retail.

Tickets are $60 each, 2 for $100, 6 for $250 or 12 for $375. 

The Early Bird deadline is June 29.

The STARS lotto helps fund operational costs for the two STARS bases in Regina and Saskatoon.

You can get your tickets by calling 1-855-449-2444 or online at www.starslotterysaskatchewan.ca