I don’t do well watching from the sidelines. I prefer to be right in the middle of the action. So it should come as no surprise to anyone that this year (this Friday, June 14, 2013, to be exact) I will be going Over the Edge in Huntsville for the YMCA.
Over What?
Some of you may a bit confused about what edge I’m going over. And why. This weekend is the second annual Over the Edge in Huntsville event benefiting the Heart of the Valley YMCA. Participants will rappel down the times building in downtown to raise funds for YMCA.
“YMCA’s Over the Edge 2012 presented an opportunity filled with excitement and a ‘sense of danger’ while still knowing I was 100% safe as I scaled down the Times building in downtown Huntsville. I had a blast and can’t wait for this year’s event!” Matt Stearns of America’s Party Pros and brave 2012 Edger told me.
I watched Matt and many others rappel at last year’s event, live tweeting and taking photos as they came down the building. And it looked like a blast!! So naturally this year I had to get in on the action. Plus, I practically rappelled last year, spending the better part of the event with my head and iPad halfway out of the 11th story window taking photos. Just don’t tell my mother. She’d have a heart attack.
The Edge
So what exactly is in store for me? What have I (and my fellow edgers) signed up for?
Here’s the scoop on the building we’ll be rappelling down:
- The Edge: The historic Times Building in downtown Huntsville
- Height: 125 feet
- Number of stories: 12
Dangling 125 feet in the air is a bit daunting when only some wires are holding you up. I’m not really afraid of heights, but I have common sense. I understand gravity.
I know that falling from that height will make me a Larkin pancake and I’d rather not be a pancake. I’m way better the way I am. To give myself a sense of peace, I spoke to some of the edgers from last year, hoping to hear how fun, easy, and un-nerve racking it was.
if you want to feel better.
That might have been a bad idea.
“I’m certain I’m supposed to tell everyone how much fun I had last year, but I am truly terrified of heights. It is a sign of how much I love the YMCA that I raised the money last year, put aside my terrible fear of heights, and actually went over the edge of the Huntsville Times building.
“Because nothing – short of saving the life of one of my children – will EVER get me on that ledge EVER AGAIN,” 2012 Edger Kim Holmes told me. That makes feel so much better…
The 2013 Edgers
So what brave souls have signed up to join me and rappel down the times building?
Here’s a sneak peak at some of this year’s edgers:
- Joe Collazo from COLSA Corporation
- Steuart Evans, Jr. the YMCA Campaign Chair
- Hall Bryant, Jr. from HC Blake
- Leo Gilliland and Johnny Osborn from iBERIA BANK
- Linda Maynor and John Levin from Maynard, Cooper & Gale
- Dr. Jim Byrne from Retina Specialists of North Alabama
- Tamila Gibbs from WaveLink, Inc.
- Scott Swing from Samples Properties
- Barbara Zeitler from Huntsville West Kiwanis
- Will Webb from Still Serving Veterans
- Celesta Freeman and Stephanie Maday from Evans, Watts & Henshaw
You can watch these folks rappel on Saturday, June 14th from 11am-7pm.
Even More Fun
While you’re not staring at the edgers, you can enjoy an Extreme Street Fair.
“We want everyone to come out and enjoy the day with us. Besides the surprise of seeing who will be coming down the building next – maybe even a superhero – people can bring their children out to our Extreme Street Fair. There will be make and take activities, games, a MoonBounce, and it’s all free,” Mary Anne Swanstrom, the Director of Communications for the YMCA told me.
That’s right, she said superheros! Last year the likes of Spider-man, Wonder Woman and more climbed down. So you never know who’ll come down off the roof…
Jealous you’re not part of the action? You still can be! I spoke to Brenda Hennessee, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the YMCA.
“There are still spots available and if folks show up early Saturday with $1,500 we can fit them in! The entire contribution is tax deductible!” she told me.
So how about it folks? Anybody out there brave enough to join me this weekend???
Live Tweeting Taken to New Heights
Just can’t wait until Saturday to get your fill of downtown rappelling action? You’re in luck! As a special treat for OVE’s readers, I will be documenting my trip down the times building…LIVE! That’s right, I will be live tweeting as I rappel 12 stories. You can follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #YOHSV.
About the YMCA
Now on to the reason all this rappelling started: the Heart of the Valley YMCA. All proceeds from Over the Edge in Huntsville benefit the YMCA’s community programs like such as membership, camp and respite child care for our Military Families, Preschool & Child Care for under-resourced families, membership for Laid-off Workers, and subsidized youth sports for children who can’t afford to play without our help.
Want to learn more?
Event Details: Over the Edge in Huntsville
Date: Saturday, June 15th
Time: 11am-7pm
Location: Historic times building in downtown Huntsville
Cost: FREE
Guest blogger for We Are Huntsville. Are you interested in writing a post for our site? Email katelyn@wearehuntsville.com.
You are brave. We had a coworker do it last year.
We’ll see about that Friday night, Carol 😉
June 14 is a Friday, but the post says Saturday, which is it? Thanks!
Sorry for the miscommunication, Natasha! Over the Edge for the Y is Saturday, June 15 from 11am-7pm. Larkin is actually going Over the Edge on Friday the 14 in the media days. Thanks for asking and helping us clarify!