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Taking fundraising to great heights

Drop Zone event raises money for those living with disabilities

From the top of the Landmark 6 building, people geared up, and rappelled down the 18 stories to a jovial crowd below.

This was the second 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.

“We have a mix of individuals, teams, and corporate teams that come down,” Easter Seals representative Michelle Webber told Kelowna10. “With the excitement of an event like this, people are pretty keen to help out because it’s neat. It’s a fun thing to be part of.”

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 a dizzy descent.

For some, it was their first time ever doing something like this, but not Matt Hauge with the Stober Foundation, having been involved in the first Drop Zone event in Kelowna.

“I love this, this is such a great organization, The Easter Seals, we’re so proud to be a part of them and support them. Talk about having fun while you’re giving back,” Hauge said. “There ain’t a lot of thinking as you go down this tremendous height, just having fun and enjoying the moment.”

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.

“All the funds that are raised in the Okanagan area from various events go to Camp Winfield to help support those campers,” Webber explained. “We subsidize costs as much as humanly possible so they can go to camp no matter where they’re at and what the parents can afford.”

Published 2022-09-20 by David Hanson and Robin Liva

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