Celebrating its 20th year, the STARS Lottery has officially launched in Red Deer and is offering more prizes than ever.

“This is the biggest lottery ever,” said Rae Fehr, STARS director of enterprise funding, adding that the lottery is already more than 45% sold.

There are four homes up for grabs as the Lottery’s grand prizes including one here in Red Deer.

The $939,000 home located at 15 Sawyer Close in South Brook was built by Mason Martin Homes. With 2,575 sq. ft. of space, the home is designed with a French Provincial inspired style.

Also up for grabs are a truck and trailer valued at more than $144,000.

The early bird prizes include $100,000 cash and a 2013 Mercedes Benz, with a three-night Las Vegas vacation package for two at Wynn Las Vegas, plus $5,000 spending cash. There are also 10 vehicles in the list of prizes as well as 35 vacation packages.

Also included in the list of prizes are 2,063 electronic prizes and 1,010 other prizes including cash, furniture, jewelry and luggage.

During this year’s launch of the Lottery, which took place at the show home last week, attendants heard the story of Brenda Schultz. Sixteen months ago she required the help of STARS after she fell off a deck at a friend’s country home.

“STARS was there for me the night that I fell off a deck and broke my back. Without me being moved by anyone else, they were called and got to me in the middle of the night and picked me up safely and rushed me to the U of A Hospital where the surgeons were able to get me into surgery right away.”

Schultz added STARS plays a pivotal role in helping to save lives.

“STARS is incredibly important because their mission is to get people to the hospital fast and the only way they can do that is with money being raised,” she said. “Thousands of lives are saved every year because of how brave they are and because of how fast they are and just because they exist.”

Fehr said the STARS Lottery is important especially because it provides the organization with 40% of its funding.

“We encourage people to buy tickets because it gives them the opportunity with a dream to win something spectacular and it keeps us flying and it allows us to keep doing missions,” he said. “Central Alberta is an important community to us because it’s the community we fly to the most.”

Tickets are available at www.starslottery.ca or by calling 1-888-880-0992. Ticket buyers are eligible for all 3,200 prize draws.

After each draw, winning tickets go back into the drum for the remaining draws. There are 20,000 single tickets for sale, 30,000 sets of three for $60, 103,000 sets of six for $100 and 201,500 sets of 18 for $250.

The early bird draw is March 21 with ticket sales cut off March 6 at midnight. The final draw is set for April 18 with ticket cut off at midnight March 27.

If tickets sell out early, drawing for all prizes will begin on March 20.

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com