60+ Individuals Rappel City Hall at Make-A-Wish(R) Rope for Hope

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 21, 2012) -

Editors note: There is a photo associated with this release.

On Tuesday, June 19, 60+ individuals, corporate teams, and wish families bravely rappelled down 30-stories of Toronto City Hall at the first annual Make-A-Wish® Rope for Hope, which raised more than $113,000 to support local wish granting efforts to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Rope for Hope is an exclusive challenge event that calls on participants to raise pledges in exchange for a once-in-a-lifetime experience to rappel off of the east tower of Toronto's iconic City Hall. Individuals can still donate to participants and the event for the next two weeks at www.ropeforhope.ca.

"We were aiming to raise $100,000 in funds in year one of this exclusive event," said Sheila Rees, Regional Director Toronto and Central Ontario, Make-A-Wish. "We're thrilled to have exceeded that goal and by the level of engagement, awareness and participation from individuals, wish families, media, corporate supporters, and the City."

Participants in the event included wish children and families, such as Tara, 18, Cystic Fibrosis, whose wish was granted in 2011 and had a double lung transplant in February 2012. Tara is doing so well that both her and her dad went over City Hall as a team to support Make-A-Wish. Wish dad Brian, and firefighter Shaun, rallied together to raise funds and support Make-A-Wish, post 4-year-old Owen's wish to be a firefighter, which was granted on World Wish Day® in April. Wish child and wish ambassador, Madison, 14, Leukemia, and her best friend, YTV's Life with Boys star, Michael Murphy, took part in Rope for Hope yesterday as well.

With the successes from the first annual Rope for Hope, Make-A-Wish looks forward to making this unique rappelling experience and event available in other cities across the country in 2013.

Special thanks to Make-A-Wish^® Rope for Hope Official Suppliers WestJet Cares for Kids and Sony Canada Charitable Foundation, and to Over the Edge for Operations/Event Management.

About Make-A-Wish^® Canada

Make-A-Wish Canada is a dynamic wish-granting organization that brings hope, strength and joy to children across Canada living with life-threatening medical conditions. Along with the national office, eight regional chapters grant magical wishes to children in need from coast-to-coast. Make-A-Wish Canada is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish^® International, the largest wish-granting organization in the world, making dreams and wishes come true for more than 290,000 children since 1980. To learn more please visit www.makeawish.ca.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20120620-MakeawishBIG.jpg.