TV’s Misha Collins and others rappel down an Irvine hotel to raise funds against addiction

You might think actor Misha Collins, a star of the CW’s horror-fantasy television series “Supernatural,” would be used to experiences that are, let’s say, unusual.

But on Monday, “I was nervous,” he said, when he pushed off the edge of the Irvine Marriott hotel to rappel down the side in a fundraiser against drug and alcohol addiction.

“I was right on the edge, and when they said to lean back, I was like ‘No, that’s not natural,’ ” he added, fittingly.

More than 70 other people also rappelled the 17 stories to raise help awareness and funds for Shatterproof, a national organization that promotes prevention, treatment and recovery of alcohol and drug addiction among children and young adults.

Participants, including Shatterproof founder and chief executive Gary Mendell, strapped on harnesses and eased down the side of the hotel on ropes.

The event was one of more than 20 in the annual Shatterproof Challenge Rappelling Series in cities across the United States.

“People with addiction wake up every morning and are afraid of what the day is going to bring,” Mendell said. “I can conquer my fears for a few minutes, and that’s what I think every time I participate.”

Mendell created Shatterproof after his son Brian died in 2011 from complications of addiction at age 25.

“The only thing I could think of was turning this tragedy into hope and spare other families from going through this,” Mendell said. “Brian always liked to help others; he inspired me.”

Collins, who passed his donation goal of $10,000, completed the challenge with his friend Dave Edington, who told him about the event.

“It was a new thing for both of us, and it was very cool,” Collins said.

Collins also was persuaded to participate by his experiences watching friends suffer from substance abuse. One of them died.

“I had a lot of thoughts about that,” he said. “It was tragic to watch [his] struggle.”

Often, he said, those struggling with substance abuse are ashamed to ask for help and don’t get the right support. In the case of illegal drugs, the stigma is further amplified.

“It’s something that is near and dear to most Americans. We’re all not too many degrees removed from someone who has suffered,” he said. “I want to help reduce the stigma.”

When Mendell began his organization, he thought it would be a small charity. But as he began to see how big the issue was, his goals changed, he said.

“I had no idea, because I was so focused on Brian, that 25 million Americans are actively addicted today. That’s one in 10,” Mendell said. “No one talks about it.”

As Monday’s seven-hour event continued, participants wrote down why they were there – whether for someone they know who was addicted to drugs or alcohol or simply to help raise money for the cause.

Each participant was asked to raise at least $1,000 in donations, and by early afternoon the organization had collected more than $95,000. Its goal was at least $100,000.

Last year’s event in Irvine brought in more than $60,000.

The money goes toward initiatives including laws that protect 911 callers from possible legal repercussions for reporting drug overdoses, naloxone (a drug that emergency workers can use in an attempt to save someone who has overdosed), improved education about prescribing and dispensing controlled substances, and screenings and intervention programs for youths.

Amanda Edington, a San Juan Capistrano resident who said she is related to Dave Edington, said she was rappelling in memory of her boyfriend’s brother, who died in December.

“So many people in my family and friends have been affected, and I wanted to do something to turn it into something positive,” she said.

She said she was nervous and still shaking after the experience but was glad to be part of it.

Nearby was a UC Irvine student who had had only 10 days to prepare.

“I saw Misha Collins had tweeted about it and thought it was something I could do,” Ariana Rowlands said.

So she reached out on social media and asked friends and relatives to help her reach her $1,000 goal.

“I’m definitely doing this next year, and now I have an entire year to plan,” Rowlands said.

Mendell said he was happy with the turnout.

“I feel really good about what we’ve accomplished since we launched,” he said. “We’re starting to change the dialogue of this disease.”

Christie D’Zurilla of the Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.