New fundraising project has star-studded endorsements

The new STARS Pegasus Project was unveiled Wednesday morning, creating a unique way for fundraising for the air ambulance service.

The project is being endorsed by Saskatoon-born actor Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy, Bad Blood, Goon), along with Saskatchewan-born NHL stars from the past and present, including Stanley Cup champions Brayden Schenn, Tyler Bozak and Jaden Schwartz, along with Colby Armstrong and Luke Schenn.

It’s all centred on a custom-built and one-of-a-kind 1968 Ford Mustang 427 coupe; it will be featured at the international SEMA convention in Las Vegas in November.

The car will then be auctioned off at the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., with all the proceeds heading to STARS Air Ambulance.

When he was originally approached with the idea, Coates said he jumped at the opportunity, and felt like it was the perfect way to give back to the place he came from.

“The work that (STARS does) is unparalleled, it’s incredible. For people who need the help in an instant, STARS is there for them in this province,” he said.

“When they called out for me, would I be involved, I jumped at the opportunity. You can take the boy out of Saskatchewan, but you can never take the Saskatchewan out of the boy.”

Brayden Schenn, who just hoisted the Stanley Cup in June, wasn’t shocked when it came to the number of NHLers who stood up to help the cause.

He said it just made sense, and it was the right thing to do.

“I think when there’s a chance to support the community, support Saskatoon, support Saskatchewan, I think guys are easily willing to jump on board,” Schenn said.

In 2014, Ford supported a similar project in the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.

It was endorsed by Gene Simmons of KISS and his Saskatoon-born wife, Shannon Tweed. The 1956 Ford F-100 pickup truck merged with a Shelby Mustang and was coined Snakebit.

It ended up being sold for US $450,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction.