Fund Raising at 400 Feet

August 25, 2008

Marathons and other athletic contests to benefit charity are commonplace, but Michigan Community Blood Centers, in Grand Rapids, is taking its athletic event to new heights.

On September 5 and 6, some 70 people will rappel 400 feet off the side of a 32-story building to raise money for the organization. The event is expected to net $50,000 or more for the charity from participants who pay a fee of $1,000 each to participate.

To pull off the event, the Michigan group has signed a contract with Over the Edge, a Canadian company that recently expanded into the United States.

The company is charging the charity a one-time fee of $20,000 to handle technical aspects of the event, including rappeling equipment, insurance, and ensuring that relevant state and federal laws, as well as safety standards, are followed. In addition, it provides a mandatory training session for all participants.

To publicize the event, the charity is holding a reception on September 5 and has invited about 20 journalists to rappel with other participants at no cost. Some of the journalists, officials said, are planning to broadcast from the event live.

“Just about anyone can do it,” said Nikki Outhier, development director at Michigan Community Blood Centers, in an interview about the rappeling event. She says that children as young as 9 (with their parents’ consent) and even people in wheelchairs can participate.

— Holly Hall

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