VICTORIA – Fifty-five Superheroes rappelled down a 13-storey downtown office building in Victoria on September 17th, raising $93,384! All funds raised on the island go towards Easter Seals Services on Vancouver Island including Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan and Easter Seals House.

Three veteran Easter Seals campers from Camp Shawnigan – Shayla Madrone, Steve Bertrand and Evan Reid – rappelled as well. Shayla and Steve rappelled in their wheelchairs and Evan went down tandem.

Not to be out-done by other Drop Zones across Canada, Victoria also welcomed many Superheroes for the day who got into the spirit by dressing in their favorite superhero costume including Batman, Robin and Batgirl to name a few.

Special thanks to all of our amazing sponsors: National Founding Sponsor CREIT Management L.P.; National Sponsors  Nutralite and Remote Access Technology; Building Host Sponsor Standard Life Assurance Co.; as well as local sponsors The Zone@91.3, 100.3 the Q!, CHEK NEWS, MBS Video Productions, Peacock Billiards and James Joyce Bistro, Sal Johal Photography, The Strathcona Hotel, Loupe Image Works, Victoria Costumes and All Systems Go.

Contact:
Shannon Bernays
BC Lions Society
Ph. 250.386.0668
Cell. 250.415.2156

Rick Harker and Marlene poise prior to plunging 20 stories in Vancouver. Half way down they exchanged marriage vows.

Vancouver, BC – The British Columbia Lions Society for Children with Disabilities is pleased to announce that the fifth annual Vancouver Easter Seals Drop Zone, held on September 15th, raised over $228,000. The funds brought in by this unique event help the organization provide programs and services to children with disabilities across the province. To date the event has raised over a million dollars in BC.

Over 70 participants from the Lower Mainland took up the Drop Zone challenge and raised a minimum of $1500 in donations. Their reward? Rappelling down the 20-storey AXA Place building at 999 West Hastings.

“Rappelling down a 20 storey building is so ‘over the top scary’, that you have to keep thinking… it’s for the kids, it’s for the kids, and you put your fears aside,” says top fundraiser Karen Dunfee. ” My co-workers Angela and Linda and I do this event as a team and getting donations was fairly easy as Teck (our employer) and all our friends in the office and our families are only too happy to support us. When you tell people what is actually involved, and what you have to do… They practically dare you to go through with it and some have even asked if we need a push at the top.”

The top 3 fundraising Superheroes were:
Karen Dunfee, Teck Resources Limited $5,877.00
Pino Bacinello, Sunbelt Business Brokers Pacific Inc. $4,755.00
Neal Delaney, Pristine Power Inc. $4,565.00

“The overwhelming success of this year’s event would not be possible without the passion and enthusiasm of the rappellers, donors and sponsors,” says Stephen Miller, President of the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities. “Their desire to help make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities and their dedication to giving these children abilities is what made this event a great success.”

“Polaris Realty Canada Ltd. was very pleased to partner with Easter Seals on this year’s extremely successful event at 999 West Hastings. It’s an incredible cause and we look forward to being the Drop Zone building sponsor again in 2010,” says Douglas Hume, Vice President of Polaris Realty Canada Ltd.

The British Columbia Lions Society for Children with Disabilities has been a registered charitable organization since 1952. We are also known as the Easter Seals People. Under both names, our mandate is to support children with disabilities throughout British Columbia. Our programs and services include 3 Easter Seals Houses, 3 Easters Seal Camps and Patient Care Grants.

For further information regarding the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seals programs and services, visit www.lionsbc.ca. To register for the 2010 Drop Zone, visit www.thedropzone.ca or call 604-873-1865.