Bungy jumping bosses were supported by their teams at WildPlay Nanaimo on Friday, Sept. 23 for a fundraiser supporting the Nanaimo and Victoria Brain Injury Societies. (Toss the Boss)

By Alex Rawnsley

just jump

VIDEO: Thousands raised for acquired brain injury services in Nanaimo through bungy fundraiser

Sep 25, 2022 | 7:00 AM

NANAIMO — Everyone knew it was for a good cause, but most who stood on a ledge and took a brave bungy plunge wondered at one point, why they were there.

The second annual Toss the Boss fundraiser for the Nanaimo and Victoria Brain Injury Societies was held at WildPlay Nanaimo on Friday, Sept. 23. Dozens of department heads were strapped to the bungy bridge and jumped to raise money for society programs and services.

Kix Citton, executive director of the Nanaimo society (NBIS) told NanaimoNewsNOW fundraisers like Toss the Boss provide “unrestricted funding” which isn’t as rigid in how it’s spent compared to government grants.

“The charity and organization get to decide and meet the needs of community directly, so we’re not tied to external priorities but we’re able to respond to our clients and community with that unrestricted fund with that support of community.”

Friday’s event raised just under $51,000 as of Saturday, Sept. 24 and more money is expected to be added to the total before counting wraps.

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Having this buffer of money which is devoted to programs and services, but is more flexible in how it can be spent, is a game changer for NBIS.

“When we’re working with year by year funding cycles, so we get funding for a program for one year so we can do that planning,” Citton said. “If we have unrestricted funds, we can bridge programs, we don’t have to wait for a funder to respond (to continue the program).”

Citton added properly funded and executed services for those with acquired brain injury has wide reaching impacts to a community.

She said around half of those who are homeless or otherwise street entrenched in Nanaimo have some form of acquired brain injury, which makes them more susceptible to life challenges.

“We’re really wanting people to start to connect those dots with brain injury and these other concurrent issues we see in our community like homelessness, like addiction, mental health. People with brain injury have higher risk of substance use, mental health, suicide.”

Rates of acquired brain injury are greater than breast cancer, HIV AIDS, and spinal cord injury combined, according to Citton.

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