Foothills Search and Rescue received a massive donation from the Okotoks Rotary Club Thursday, October 18.

Proceeds from the Rotary Golf Tournament, a charity dinner, Rotary Grants and other individual donations were presented to members of FSAR at the Crystal Ridge Golf Club.

Dave Colbert, Vice President of FSAR, says the donation of over $87,800 has now put the organization way ahead in their fundraising efforts for a new command centre.

"It's fantastic, it puts us 24 months ahead of schedule as far as getting our command post."

Colbert says the new centre is desperately needed, as FSAR's current command post has become old and obsolete.

"It's an old converted motor home for lack of a better term, it's a 24' old motor home that you can no longer gets parts for. When it breaks down we have a mechanic out in Dewinton who works magic and somehow finds parts for it, but it's on its last legs."

He shares FSAR plans to order the $300,000 command centre in April 2018, after that it should arrive within five to six months.

Colbert adds FSAR, which is a non profit, receives very minimal funding from the government for equipment and operations.

"Donations are always welcome, we accept donations even $10, we'll accept whatever someone can afford and as a non profit charitable receipts are available."

 

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