Watch above: Each year, a special fundraiser has people climbing up 22 storeys to the top of a Saskatoon building only to rappel themselves over the side. ‘Scaredy cat’ Joelle Tomlinson took the plunge all in the name of Camp Easter Seals.
SASKATOON – Cats always land on their feet. Or, at least that’s what I was hoping to channel when I dressed up as “Catwoman” for the Drop Zone in Saskatoon this year.
This event is loud, fun and just a little bit scary. Participants dress up as superheroes and rappel off the Carlton Tower – a 22-storey building – to raise money for Easter Seals Saskatchewan.
Seeing as I’m not afraid of heights, I thought I had this in the bag. Even more exciting for us, Global News got the first rappel of the day.
I was wrong.
There’s no way to prepare someone for leaning backwards off a high-rise building. You just have to put your full trust into the trained volunteers supervising your rappel, and the equipment holding you up. Add to this the aspect of live television. Fun!
The first obstacle is the ledge at the top of the Carlton Tower. You let go of the rope (I was told this is to protect your face in case you fly into the building too quickly) and do a little jump. Once your feet are planted on the side of the apartment wall, one hand controls your rate of descent and the other clutches onto the rope.
This is when my inner Catwoman came out.
You can take as big as leaps as you like and fly on down (all while observing resident’s living quarters). Many of those residents came out on their balconies to “catcall” and yell words of encouragement. It all flew by rather quickly and 22 floors didn’t seem like enough by the end.
I had a blast rappelling down the tower in support of a very worthwhile cause in Saskatchewan. Camp Easter Seals provides an opportunity to children who deserve to create those summer camp memories we all cherish.
Over the last ten years, Drop Zone in Saskatchewan has raised around $1 million in support of Easter Seals Saskatchewan, and I know the superheroes in our province will continue to support this charity for years to come.
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