Skydives from 13,500 feet to raise funds for physically-challenged
Logi Mariathasan being strapped in ahead of her flight. (Pictures by Bala Balakrishnan)
Mother of three sons makes perfect landing amidst hundreds of cheering
It was perfect blue skies over the Parachuting School of Toronto (PST) recently, Smith Blvd, Baldwin, Ontario.
Logi Mariathasan, pretty but physically-disadvantaged with polio affecting her right leg at a very young age, attempted a daredevil sky dive from a height of 13,500 feet over Ontario skies.
Her father, former Deputy Chief Government Analyst in Sri Lanka V. Kulanayagam, and his wife spent considerable amount of their wealth to bring their pretty daughter on her feet. Logi underwent operation after operation with pain and patience while most of her schooling at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya was at stake. Through sheer willpower she fought her way back and survived.
This is an incredible woman who at the age of 70 dared to risk her life by trying a sky dive stunt from a height of 13,500 feet to raise funds for the Organisation of Canadian Tamils with Disabilities (OCTD).
Logi Mariathasan is physically-disadvantaged from a young age with polio affecting her right leg.
She says she was flirting with death, holding a hand of the instructor for over one minute in midair before their parachutes opened and hit the ground at a speed of 200 km an hour. As she landed one would see her long hair flying all over and this courageous woman completing the stunt with a happy smile.
Earlier she was in the dressing room and was in a blue paratrooper uniform. Small planes were flying every 15 minutes ferrying the parachuters. Logi boarded the aircraft and began her memorable ride and soared into a height of 13,500 feet. She jumped from the plane harnessed to the parachute floating with the instructor, who also video graphed the whole event, for approximately one minute in midair and landed safely. Over 500 Sri Lankans attended the event and Logi created lot of hope for the disabled Sri Lankans here in Toronto. People should give her a hand to help her efforts to assist needy and disabled Sri Lankans.
Logi created hope for many living with disabilities in the community.
The eldest of her three sons Sanjeev holds a PhD in genetics and works at Genentech in San Francisco. Rajeev is a theatre artiste in special effects based in Vancouver. He worked for many years in the UK with Harry Potter productions. The youngest, Gajeev, owns an IT company in Toronto.
One interesting story was retold by Kumar Kanagarajah. Talking about Logi, he said, 30 years ago ‘Logi dressed my beautiful wife…at our wedding’. This is the respect, love and happiness Logi has built over the years as a veteran hair dresser and a make up artist.
Her tower of strength was her husband Siva who was seemingly anxious about her safety. Logi thanked Mr. Adam, CEO of Parachute School of Toronto for affording her the opportunity to make the historic skydive.
