'Inject a little adrenaline into your life': Inspirational rappelling

From the top of the Landmark 7 building, people geared up, and rappelled down the 35 stories to a jovial crowd below.

This was the third year for the Drop Zone event in Kelowna to raise awareness and support Easter Seals, Canada’s largest provider of programs and services for those living with disabilities.

Participants put on their harnesses and hardhats and were given a short demonstration and basic training from a rappelling instructor.

Soon after, they were off to the top of the building and getting hooked up for their dizzy descent.

For some, it was their first time ever doing something like this, but for motivational speaker Chris Koch, it was just another Tuesday.

“I'd got an email from Sam at Easter Seals asking me if I was going to be in town and wanted to come and hang out at the Drop Zone again,” Koch told Kelowna10. “I think as we get older, we shy away from doing things and doing stuff like this to remind yourself that you're alive and inject a little adrenaline into your life. I think that's very, very important for, not just people with disabilities, but anybody.”

Koch, who was born without arms and legs, joined a tandem rappel down the building.

He recently returned from assisting with the harvest on his family’s farm, where he operated a combine for nearly two months.

Typically, he’s on the road, doing his motivational speaking and inspiring those who need it with the simple mantra “If I can, anyone can.”

“That's a big reason why I'm here is Easter Seals and other organizations like it are doing what they can to make sure that people with disabilities or different abilities are able to participate in activities,” Koch explained. “I encourage other people with disabilities and other abilities to step outside of their own comfort zone and realize that all those things that they only think fully abled people can do, they actually can do as well in some shape, way, or form.”

The sold-out event saw 50 participants step outside their comfort zone and rappel, raising over $64,000 and counting.

With the money raised through charity fundraising events like Drop Zone, The Easter Seals can help more than 6,000 children, youth, and adults living with disabilities.

The organization gives them the opportunity to attend an overnight camp to help bolster their skills and confidence and empower them to see their talents and abilities in new ways.