The Fire Chief for La Broquerie says he has been blown away by the support he has felt in taking part in Rescue On The Island. Alain Nadeau and seven others boarded a helicopter Friday morning and headed to Carter Island on Eleanor Lake in the Whiteshell. The group participated in challenges as part of a fundraiser for the air ambulance service.

"I'm absolutely amazed by the people in the southeast, the people came through for me," says Nadeau. "I was worried about getting only fifteen thousand to twenty thousand dollars and it went very, very well. I really appreciate everybody that donated."

At last check, Nadeau had raised more than $72,000.

Nadeau says he took part in the challenge in order to spread the word in the southeast about the importance of the rescue helicopter. Nadeau says as a firefighter, he knows the difference STARS makes at a crash or traumatic scene. Nadeau says he has been a firefighter for 37 years and says STARS could have made such a difference in so many lives if it had been around for the first 32 years he served as a firefighter.

"Now that it's around we value it so much, we appreciate it so much," says Nadeau. "It's such a good feeling to see the helicopter role down on a scene where somebody is having his worst day."

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Nadeau On Track For New STARS Fundraising Record