Long way down for charity

OS Dallas O’Dell of HMCS Protecteur hopes to raise enough money so he can rappel down the 13 story CIBC building in downtown Victoria dressed as Boba Fett as a part of the Easter Seals Drop Zone charity event.

OS Dallas O’Dell plans to trade his Naval Combat Dress for something a little more, or less heroic.

On Sept.13, in a patchwork costume resembling the villain Boba Fett of Star Wars, he’ll rappel down the side of the 13 storey CIBC building in downtown Victoria, all in the name of charity.

He’ll be doing this as a part of the Easter Seals Drop Zone, an event that raises money to send children with disabilities to summer camp at Shawingan Lake.

As a member of the Canadian Forces, OS O’Dell feels it’s important to become involved in the community.

“Working with the community is part of our job. It shouldn’t just end at the base,” he says. “I think that Drop Zone is a great cause. I’ll take any chance I can to contribute and be a super hero for a child in need. I think everyone, not just Canadian Forces members, should live by that.”

While he admits rappelling down the outside of the towering office building is intimidating, he is just as afraid to not meet his fundraising goal of $1,000, the minimum amount required to participate.

“This event is really important to me,” he says. “To put all this effort and thought into it and not meet my goal would be a huge disappointment. It’s for the kids after all.”

OS O’Dell is well on his way, having collected more than $300 to date, but he needs more to make the rappel in a quirky costume.

To donate, you can contact him directly in HMCS Protecteur, go to the donation page at www.thedropzone.ca, call 778-317-3991 or email dallas.shears@yahoo.com.

Shawn O’Hara, Staff Writer