LOCAL heroes take A leap of faith for Easter Seals
Participants rappel 21-storey-building to raise money for barrier-free camp
Three nervous prairie chickens made their way into the elevator and onto the roof of downtown Regina’s Hill Tower II on Saturday morning.
They were doing it for a good cause, but also to prove something to themselves.
They weren’t actually chickens, but three women who signed up to participate in the Easter Seals Drop Zone fundraiser. The trio wore matching tall socks depicting chicken legs and plastic chicken beaks as part of their team costume.
“I just kind of feel like it’s almost a line in the sand for me. After this, you can do anything,” said The Prairie Chickens team captain, Jill Laycock.
The annual event raises money for Camp Easter Seal, which provides programming for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.
It is the province’s only barrierfree camp facility and is made possible by the Saskatchewan Abilities Council (Saskabilities).
“I know there are a lot of children that wouldn’t get that opportunity if we weren’t raising money for them,” said Laycock.
Laycock, her co-captain Bobbie Sevenster and teammate Melinda Lalach rappelled from the roof of Hill Tower II, which is 230 feet — or 21 storeys — tall.
Equipped with helmets and harnesses, the three friends got their thrill, while also making a difference for Saskatchewan residents with disabilities.
“My brother worked for (Camp Easter Seal) many years ago and so did my cousin, and they’ve told me that it’s a life-changing experience,” said Sevenster.
Amy Weekes, community relations and events co-ordinator for Saskabilities, said the camp and its programming are integral to making sure every kid in Saskatchewan can have access to the same opportunities and experiences.
“We want there to be a place for those kids to go out and swim and ride horses and go boating and do activities that aren’t readily available to them at any other camp or even in the city,” said Weekes.
Each participant is required to raise at least $1,500 — the cost of
My brother worked for (Camp Easter Seal) many years ago and so did my cousin, and they’ve told me that it’s a life-changing experience.
sending one kid to camp. About 40 people were to rappel on Saturday, down from about 80 participants last year.
Weekes said they are still less than halfway toward their goal of raising $110,000 this time around, but that people can donate to the Drop Zone event or directly to Camp Easter Seal at any time.
Abut 590 people attended the camp last year, according to Weekes. Last year’s event raised $86,000.
“Camp is not only barrier-free, it’s judgment-free. Where other camps maybe would struggle with people’s individual needs who have intellectual disabilities, Camp Easter Seal embraces it and works with people on a person-toperson basis to meet their particular needs,” she said.
Laycock said she woke up excited on Saturday morning. The little bit of concern over the wind didn’t stop her from making the 21-storey journey, stopping a couple times along the way to enjoy the view.
Beaming with pride, her teammates greeted her back on the ground with enthusiastic hugs and praise.
“What a neat experience,” said Laycock with a big smile on her face. “Really cool.”
To donate online, visit saskabilities.com or for more information on the Easter Seals Drop Zone, visit thedropzone.ca.