HALO Air Ambulance is launching an annual lottery in partnership with Highline Angus – a commercial cattle company in southern Alberta.
The inaugural HALO Cattle er’ Cash Lottery has a grand prize of 20 “Bred Heifers” or $50,000 in cash. There are only 3,000 tickets being sold for $100 each. The proceeds, which are expected to be more than $200,000, will go toward operating costs for HALO.
“We are very excited about this new fundraiser, it comes on the heels of an extremely difficult year for the HALO Program, and everyone really,” said CEO Paul Carolan.
The lottery starts March 4 and will run through to November. There is an early bird draw on May 31 and the grand prize draw will take place Nov. 25.
Carolan says it was crucial for HALO to diversify its fundraising program to be in a better position for the future, and says this will help stabilize operations moving forward.
HALO is the only helicopter air ambulance that has been dedicated to southeastern Alberta since 2007. HALO relies almost exclusively on donations by individuals, businesses and corporate partners, plus regional and municipal governments.
HALO is still working with the provincial government to secure funding rather than a strict dependence on donations.
A review of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) was submitted to Health Minister Tyler Shandro last year but he requested clarification and additional information on certain aspects, Carolan told the News recently. He believes HALO was “exceptionally well represented” in the review.
There has been dialogue with Shandro’s office as recently as December, he said.
