About 160 people rappelled down the side of a 40-story building in downtown Seattle over the weekend, raising $225,000 for Special Olympics Washington in the “Over the Edge’ event.
But one of those people did something no one in the state of Washington has ever done: he rappelled down the skyscraper in his wheelchair.
Dale Doornek, who has been a paraplegic since a motorcycle accident in 1994, wanted to send a message.
“People with any type of physical disability, mental disability, don’t let that stop you,” Doornek said.
With help from a team of rappelling experts, Doornek sat in his wheelchair as he repelled down the side of a 490-foot building at 1000 Second Avenue.
“I think he’s awesome,” one spectator said. “I think he’s my hero.”
Doornek raised about $5,000 for Special Olympics, enough to fund eight athletes for an entire year or competition.
