Easter Seals fundraiser goes over the top again

Neither Vince Mirabelli nor Karen Matson is crazy about heights.

But both plan to put their fears aside on Aug. 14 and rappel 14 storeys down the side of the city’s second tallest building, raising funds to take part in the annual Easter Seals Drop Zone event at Maplecrest Towers.

“It’s all for the kids and it’s for a great cause, Easter Seals, otherwise I would not be doing this,” Mirabelli said on Thursday, as event organizers made a last-minute pitch for participants, seeking to meet or beat last year’s $50,000 total.

“I’m not really scared of heights, but rappelling down a building is a lot different than actually being on a balcony of that kind of building just standing here. And another thing is actually dropping down this building. I’ll see when I get up there and what kind of feeling I have in my stomach.”

Mirabelli, a well-known real estate agent and the subject of this year’s celebrity roast, and Matson, who works at Performance Kia, were challenged to take the plunge and gladly accepted.

Matson admitted she’s terrified of heights.

“It is way out of my comfort zone, but you know what, I’m going to do this in memory of my sister. She lived her life that way and I’m going to do it myself too,” she said. “Fourteen storeys makes me nervous, but it’s for the kids. I’m raising funds and I’ve got my webpage created already and I’m going to go forward with this.”

Matson’s sister, Lisa DeProphetis, a long-time Dougall Media employee, died unexpectedly earlier this year.

In addition to adding the ability to challenge others into taking part in the Easter Seals Drop Zone, the event has added other incentives to encourage participants to join the fun.

The employee challenge provides a ballot for a chance to win an office patio party at Kelsey’s Restaurant. All it takes is two employees to qualify. The more people taking part, the more ballots participating businesses will receive.

Rhonda Harrison, a senior development officer with Easter Seals Ontario, said the event has proven popular since Day 1.

“It’s such a unique opportunity to rappel 14 stories down the second-tallest building in Thunder Bay, right in the middle of town. It’s very cool, very unique and it’s a fundraiser that’s helping the kids. It’s for a great cause,” she said.

“Easter Seals helps families with children with physical disabilities purchase equipment for mobility, communication devices and also to send kids to camp.”

Those needing help fundraising the $1,000 minimum to participate can also sell raffle tickets. They’re $5 apiece, with prizes including a trip for two to any Porter Airlines destination, a helicopter tour of the city, a camping package from Gear Up For Outdoors and finally, a year’s worth of meals’ at Kelsey’s or Montana’s.

For information, visit www.thedropzone.ca.