80 adventurers pay to rappel down 35-story Jersey City Downtown office building

By Rafal Rogoza / The Jersey Journal
June 24, 2013 at 2:02 PM




If a bake sale is not extreme enough for you, you can rappel down a 35-story high-rise to support a good cause.

That?s exactly what 80 adventurous donors did Saturday in Downtown Jersey City during the American Cancer Society?s second annual ?Over the Edge?? fundraiser.

"This event is really focused on the rappel and the mission,? said event manager Sara Brandsema, who during Friday?s preview of Saturday?s fundraiser, along with Jersey City mayor-elect Steve Fulop, scaled down Mack Cali Realty Corporation?s Harborside Financial Plaza 5, an office building on Hudson Street near the city?s unobstructed
waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline.

?This is the best skyline in the world and to be able to see that from an amazing vantage point...is incredible,? she said. ?The building is perfect for it. The roof has an awesome setup.?

Each participant raised $1,500 in order to strap onto a rope and make the estimated 15-minute descent down the building?s north side, Brandsema said. As of Saturday afternoon the event had raised roughly $105,000.

Top donors included a Merrill Lynch team that raised $30,000 and had five participants who came from across the country to make the rappel, Brandsema added.

It all started around 8 a.m., when participants began making their way down in groups of four. Waiting below were cheering family members and friends, many of whom were seated in a shaded lawn area enjoying donated food from Hudson Grille.

The last rappelers made their descent around 5:30 p.m.. Among them were Erika Meitzner and Jack Kim from West Orange.

?It was breathtaking,? Kim said. ?I had to stop a few times to take it in.?

The duo was part of a group of friends that teamed up to raise funds for the event. Meitzner?s mother, Brigitte, a nonsmoker, died from a rare form of lung cancer this year at the age of 65.

?This is in honor of her,? Meitzner said.

Those interested in participating in next year?s event are encouraged by Brandsema to contact the events department at the American Cancer Society?s Manhattan office.

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index ... s_pay_to_rappel_d.html#/0

I just want to pinch his cheek and dandle him on my knee.

All of our hopes and dreams could have ended right there. Yikes!

Marli Horwitz/The Jersey Journal

What's more difficult: running for mayor of Jersey City or rappelling down a 470-foot skyscraper?

"Definitely rappelling down the side of that building," said Mayor-elect Steve Fulop after he reached the ground following a 15-minute climb down the side of a 35-story Downtown tower.

Fulop, 36, was one of seven who rappelled down Harborside Financial Plaza 5 on Hudson Street this morning as part of a preview of tomorrow?s ?Over the Edge? fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Fulop, who becomes mayor on July 1, was joined today by Peter Robert Casey, a Huffington Post blogger; Peter Shankman, CEO of the Geek Factory; NY Liberty mascot Maddie the Dog; and St. John?s University mascot Johnny Thunderbird.

The American Cancer Society asked them to take part in this morning's event to raise awareness for tomorrow's fundraiser.

"It's a great cause ... even for a guy that is terrified of heights," Fulop said.

Tomorrow's event, which starts at 8 a.m. at the Harborside Financial Plaza, will draw a total of about 80 experienced climbers as well as first-timers.

Each participant is asked to raise $1500 for the cause. For information visit the event website.