CEO Maddie Young today announced the “Over the Edge” event, flanked by other members of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region and Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
Like many kids, you may have grown up with dreams of being a superhero.
This week, you can get discover your inner Spiderman right in downtown Harrisburg with “Over the Edge,” a fundraiser in which people without evident superpowers will rappel down the 220-foot, 18-story Market Square Plaza Building.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region is sponsoring the event, which will start with a preliminary descent late Thursday afternoon before continuing all day Friday.
“We hope that people will come out and see the feats of bravery,” quipped Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
Papenfuse said the event’s objective is two-fold: to raise money for the organization and to bring awareness that 50 young people in the Harrisburg area are in need of big brothers and big sisters.
In the eyes of CEO Maddie Young, the fundraising part is already a success, exceeding its goal before it even begins. So far, the organization has 60 people lined up at $1,000 or more to get strapped in and make the descent, with pledges totaling more than $80,000, she said.
Nonetheless, walk-up spots will still be available on Friday for a $1,000 donation, said Papenfuse.
Young said that the actual descent will be operated by Over the Edge, a Halifax, Canada-based company that specializes in adventure experiences and has staged this particular event many times. The company already has examined the building and received all the necessary permissions, she said.
“Many Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations have done this very successfully,” she said, adding that the event has been a year in planning.
Market Square Plaza Building
Papenfuse said that he doesn’t anticipate any problems, as the company exercises robust safety procedures, but city police and fire still will be on hand for the duration of the event.
He added that he hoped the publicity will lead to a big brother or sister for every young person on the list who needs a mentor.
“It is so essential to the health and fabric of this city,” he said.
“Over the Edge” runs 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday at 17 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. Click here to learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region.
