COURTESY OF DAN GREEN
Over the Edge has been rappelling on the edge of St. Louis for eight years.
If you've longed for the chance to rappel seventeen stories down the side of a building in the shadow of the Gateway Arch, well, you just might get your chance this weekend — provided you're willing to raise some money for a good cause.
The Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch is hosting a rappelling fundraiser this Saturday, October 7, to support and benefit Special Olympics Missouri.
The organizer is Over the Edge, a special events company that runs rappelling events for nonprofit organizations across North America. Proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Missouri's year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
This is the ninth year St. Louis has hosted Over the Edge. Over the last eight years, the events have raised more than $1 million.
“Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch is thrilled to once again support Special Olympics Missouri and provide the hotel as the location for Over the Edge St. Louis in order to help raise money for the organization,” says Jennifer Byrnes, director of sales and marketing for the hotel, in a press release. “The event is a unique and exciting way to raise money for a fantastic cause and it is exciting to see participants taking their support to new heights by rappelling down the side of our hotel.”
Participants must be at least fourteen years old and raise a minimum of $1,000 to take part.
Check-in for the event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. The first rappel down the hotel begins at 9 a.m. and the last will be at 4:50 p.m.
Those who reach top fundraising goals can receive incentives. First place receives a New Year’s Eve party package and a stay in the hotel courtesy of Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch, second place wins and Amazon Echo and third place win two tickets to a St. Louis Blues hockey game.
For children thirteen and younger, a Kiddie Climb will take place at the portable rock climbing wall. The cost is $25 and includes an Over the Edge bookbag for the first 30 to sign up.
Rappelling down a building not your thing? No problem. The event will also feature a portable rock climbing wall attendees can climb with a $5 minimum donation. There also will be cornhole games, an onsite DJ, Knights of Columbus clowns doing face painting and balloons, photo op with Shiver Bear mascot and the Walk the Edge game every hour for $5 to win prizes.
To register and raise funds for Over the Edge, visit its website. For more information about Special Olympics Missouri, visit www.somo.org.
