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Chris Loran from 100.3 The Q radio station, wearing the full costume of the rock band Kiss’ bass player Gene Simmons, including platform boots, participates in the fifth annual Easter Seals Drop Zone. Earlier this week, Easter Seals cancelled the fundraising event afterthe building owner pulled out. Last year the event raised more than aised $113,000 for Camp Shawnigan, a summer camp for children with mental, cognitive or physical disabilities. Don Denton/News staff
Easter Seals drop zone meets its end Sponsor putting efforts into other charity programs Daniel Palmer News staff
The days of costumed mascots and Greater Victoria mayors awkwardly rappelling down the side of a downtown Victoria office building are no more. Standard Life, which for the past seven years has hosted the Easter Seals Drop Zone for the Kids event at its 1175 Douglas St. building, told Easter Seals in 2012 that last
year's event would be its last, said Standard Life spokesperson AnneJulie Gratton. "Easter Seals is a great organization, but we've changed in terms of our community investments over the years," Gratton said. "What we're supporting (now) is youth unemployment programs and school perseverance. So based on those guidelines, it just didn't fit with what we're doing now across the country." Verna Wright, Easter Seals special events co-ordinator, said Easter Seals approached several other building owners in Greater Victoria but were unable to secure
a new location for the rappelling event. "We're really sad," she said. "(The building owners) may change their mind next year, but I kind of doubt it. For the last few years, they weren't really crazy about the idea." Drop Zone raised $113,000 last September for Camp Shawnigan, a summer camp for children with mental, cognitive or physical disabilities. Easter Seals sends 300 kids through the week-long camp each summer at a cost of $2,400 per child. Wright announced this week the Drop Zone fundraiser is indefi-
nitely cancelled. "We have other events, and we're hoping they'll be able to make enough money to keep supporting the camp. We can't close it," she said. Upcoming Easter Seals fundraisers include the second annual Splash of Colour Family Fun Run for the Kids, Apr. 19 at Royal Roads University. The five-kilometre run includes bright-coloured paint explosions throughout the race. See splashofcolor.ca for more information. On May 31 and June 1, the Easter Seals 24-Hour Relay for the Kids takes place at University of
Victoria Centennial Stadium. Visit 24hourrelay.com for more. Vancouver's Drop Zone event will still take place this year, and Wright said interested participants are still invited to attend. "Whatever they raise from Island teams will come to us," she said. "But no more Drop Zone here, unfortunately." dpalmer@vicnews.com
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LifeMark Health Esquimalt 5K with
5K
Run & Walk
1K Kid’s Fun Run
Register NOW! www.esquimalt.ca/5K Saturday March 22 at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre Organized by
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