Assistant professor of Occupational Therapy Rashid Kashani rappelled down 29 storeys from the roof of the Sutton Place Hotel in Edmonton on Sept. 7.
His wife thinks he's a little nuts but his students think he's pretty cool. Assistant professor of Occupational Therapy Rashid Kashani rappelled down 29 storeys from the roof of the Sutton Place Hotel in Edmonton on Sept. 7.
"I'm actually afraid of heights. Terrified!" said Kashani from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. "But it's for a good cause, one I personally believe in."
The event is called Drop Zone, a fundraiser for Easter Seals, an organization that helps individuals with disabilities and special needs through service, education, outreach and advocacy.
"My former clients received help from Easter Seals through their equipment program and I wanted to show my support this way," Kashani said with a grin. He exceeded the fundraiser's proposed goal of $1500 and raised $1700. His team of four raised over $7000.The money raised helps provide equipment and services to Albertans with disabilities and special needs.
Kashani also wanted the chance to be in his clients' shoes. "My patients use various equipment to deal with their disabilities and live independently. They need to trust the equipment and the professional recommending it. By doing this, I am in the same boat. I need to put trust in the equipment and the experts too."
Easter Seals is still accepting Drop Zone donations through Sept. 30 at thedropzone.ca.
About the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
As the only free standing faculty of rehabilitation in Canada, the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine balances its activities among learning, discovery and citizenship (including clinical practice). A research leader in musculoskeletal health, spinal cord injuries and common spinal disorders (back pain), the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine aims to improve the quality of life of citizens in our community. The three departments, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPA) offer professional entry programs. The Faculty offers thesis-based MSc and PhD programs in Rehabilitation Science, attracting students from a variety of disciplines including OT, PT, SLP, psychology, physical education, medicine and engineering.