With little more than a harness for coverage, 28 women zipped by the tree tops above deep canyon, dropping their insecurities and a lot of cash earmarked for breast cancer research as they went.
The fifth annual Bare in the Air event held at ZipZone Adventure Park in Peachland went off without a hitch Thursday, adding another $12,000 to the $50,000 previously raised for breast cancer research.
Naked ziplining is a unique concept that’s reaped great rewards, said ZipZone owner Kevin Bennett, conceding he wasn’t the one who thought of it.
“It started in 2011 with a cheeky group who called me up and said, ‘we heard if we zipped naked we could go for free,'” he said.
He thought about it for awhile, and decided it wasn’t a half-bad idea, and so long as it was done with a noble cause in mind he’d be happy to oblige. So, he called them back and said he’d agree to waive the fee, so long as some money was raised for a charity.
They said yes, chose the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as their cause, and started a tradition that shows no sign of stopping anything soon. That woman who made the call five years ago was at the most recent event, too. In fact, she’s yet to miss one.
“It’s a great cause and I am passionate about the event,” said Ashley Perry, pointing out that it feels good to have started something that continues to raise money for a health problem that affects one in three women, a statistic made obvious by the number of women at the event recounting their own struggles with cancer.
It’s fitting the event also builds a sense of sisterhood among participants.
“That first year we all knew each other,” Perry said. “But the next year we were naked with total strangers and there was no judgment.”
Dropping judgments and preconceived notions is one of the things that drew Jenn Kyllo to the event.
The founder of the networking group BABES in Business Inc., attended Thursday with fellow BABES in tow.
“I’m scared to death of heights and nudity, but I’m excited about this,” she said as the event got underway. “I’ve heard it’s a freeing and empowering experience.”
After she finished her zip above the trees, she said her intel was right.
Not only did she feel awestruck by the natural views she took in, but by the camaraderie she felt with her fellow participants.
“It was awesome,” she said, echoing what just about every woman said as they were unhitched from their harnesses.
Donations to breast cancer in honour of the event can be made at the CBCF’s website — or send a cheque to the charity at ZipZone, at Box 1064, Peachland, BC, V0H 1X0.
