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

Easter Seals Drop Zone superheroes made history this year by collectively raising more than $1 million for Easter Seals in support of Canadians with disabilities.

In total, 580 superheroes raised $1,096,685 and counting, with last minute donations coming in.

‘Superheroes’ are participants of Canada’s most unique fundraising event. Canadians are invited to rappel down the side of one of nine office buildings across the country by raising a minimum of $1500 through private donations in support of Easter Seals programs and services such as accessible summer camp and adaptive technology. To get into the spirit of the campaign, many participants don the outfits of superheroes.

“I believe in helping these kids. That’s my drive. It’s for them,” says Saskatoon superhero Elaine Bleie, top fundraiser for the last three years. Bleie raised more than $28,000 for kids with disabilities in Saskatchewan during that timeframe.

“You’d never know there was a recession,” says Cheryl McNamara, national campaign facilitator. “Easter Seals superheroes have really stepped up, and so have their donors. They are pushing the limits for themselves and for the cause. Everyone at Easter Seals cannot thank them enough. They truly are inspiring.”

The event grew by an astounding 23 percent since last year. Superheroes rappelled in nine cities this year, starting in Winnipeg and moving to Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Halifax and Montreal.

One of the event highlights was the wedding of Marlene Hoar and longtime Easter Seals volunteer, Rick Harker, who tied the knot so to speak half way down 999 West Hastings during the Vancouver Drop Zone on September 15.

“We are crazy in love and really want to do an off the wall wedding that we will remember for many years to come that we can talk to our grandchildren about and at the same time help children with disabilities,” they wrote on their fundraising profile page.

As always, the Easter Seals Drop Zone attracted local media, including approximately 40 journalists who rappelled themselves, quite often while live on air.

“It takes your breath away, it actually takes your breath away,” said Heather Steele, CityTV personality in Winnipeg right after her rappel. “You can’t believe you did it and now of course you want to do it again right away.”

For more on the Easter Seals Drop Zone, visit www.thedropzone.ca