Do you possess a passion for helping children? The Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC) wants you to go “Over the Edge” for Child Advocacy, a rappelling adventure at Stadium Park Plaza. Each rappeller commits to raising $1,000 or more to rappel down the Stadium Park Plaza’s five stories. Helping the Center this way, climbing down these five stories, can help change the stories of children who have experienced child sexual abuse in our community. This event raised $65,000 for the Child Advocacy Center last year and enabled us to increase mental health services and to serve more children through forensic interviews. These services lead to justice and healing for children experiencing unthinkable abuse.
On October 25 and 26, 92 rappellers will experience a once-in-a-lifetime, thrilling experience! No rappelling experience is necessary. Participants may be experienced rock climbers or have no experience at all and simply a desire to help children.
Is it safe? Over the Edge Global ensures that safety is the most important aspect of this event. The event is set up and run as an industrial work site and as such must comply with the highest of standards. Each rappeller receives instruction about rappelling; then trained volunteers assist the rappeller with the safety harness. As each rappeller descends and enjoys the experience, volunteers at the top of the plaza and on the ground assist with the ropes and carefully observe the rappeller’s descent. Rappellers maintain constant communication with Over the Edge staff.
Family, friends, and coworkers are encouraged to attend the event and offer encouragement to their favorite rappellers as they descend. There is no age limit, and anyone who weighs a minimum of 100 pounds and maximum of 300 can go Over the Edge. Five stories may sound daunting, but think about rappelling Orlando’s Hyatt Regency’s 32 stories or Denver’s Hyatt Regency Convention Center’s 38 where Over the Edge events are also held. And while it certainly takes courage, imagine the courage it takes for children to come forward, tell their story and sometimes testify against their abuser.
Most importantly, each rappeller will be supporting a great cause, helping to provide services to children who have been sexually abused. These services include forensic interviewing, child sexual abuse medical examinations, counseling for the victim, and support for the victim’s family. Also, the funds will allow for increased awareness and prevention programs called Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children for adults and ROAR for children ages 4-8.
Last fiscal year, the center served 733 children, a 30 percent increase over the year before. Funds raised through Over the Edge will assist in providing these needed services for child victims. All services are provided free of charge to the victim and their family.
Med Center Health and TeamHealth are partnering with the Child Advocacy Center again this year as Presenting Sponsors of this event. WBKO is our Partner and we are so grateful for their ongoing support helping the Center to raise awareness about child abuse in the Barren River Region. Diversified Electrical, Inc. is on board as our Rope Sponsor. We are looking forward to seeing all of our Edgers and celebrating with all of our VIPs on Friday night for the first-ever evening rappels and VIP Party from 4 to 6 p.m.
Employees can use Over the Edge to “Toss Their Boss“ or church members can “Pitch Their Pastor.” Greenwood Park Church of Christ and Broadway United Methodist are already committed to a second year of participation. As a great team-building event, employees or church members can raise $1,500 to send the boss or pastor over the edge. Those who are “too chicken” to rappel the five stories can raise funds to sit in the “chicken coop,” a cozy place to show support and cheer on the rappellers as they scale down Stadium Park Plaza.
Schools may also participate by raising money to send one or more of their staff/administrators Over the Edge. The schools in Bowling Green Independent Schools and Warren County Public Schools that raise the most will receive a field trip to watch their “Edger” go over on Friday, October 25 at noon. Plano Elementary won last year and brought over 500 students to Stadium Park Plaza to watch Principal Ben Frasier and Dean of Students Alicia McKinney descend Over the Edge!
Are you ready to sign up? On BRACAC’s website, www.bracac.org, you will find the Over the Edge logo; click below the image and fill out the quick, online registration. You may also visit us online to donate and support others who are going over. We are looking forward to our Second Annual Over the Edge on October 25 and 26.
