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Disabled man bungee-jumps 100 feet

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Published: June 5, 2008 at 9:48 AM

EDMONTON, Alberta, June 5 (UPI) -- A 33-year-old Canadian man confined to a wheelchair with cerebral palsy challenged his fears and bungee-jumped 100 feet in Edmonton, Alberta.

Dean Rachkewich told the Edmonton Sun he made the jump as part of a self-improvement course he's attending, and fellow classmates were fully supportive.

The bungee-jump is located in the world's largest mall, the West Edmonton Mall, and jumpers leap 100 feet over a wave pool. Rachkewich said he wanted to confront both his disability and his fear of heights.

With Ozzy Osbourne music blasting and classmates and spectators cheering him on, Rachkewich hesitated before pushing off as video cameras recorded his leap, the report said.

He was unstrapped and helped into an inflatable raft which took him to the side of the wave pool and his wheelchair, where he watched a video replay.

I don't believe I'm the one who did that," he told reporters. "It helped me push through my fear and prove to myself I can do anything if I put my mind to it."

Topics: Ozzy Osbourne
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