There’s 30 people already willing and able to go over the edge of one of Red Deer’s tallest buildings next month to help make a very ill child’s wish come true.
Of course, they’ll be safely secured when they rappel down the 12-storey Stantec Executive Place building in downtown Red Deer on July 22.
More participants are being sought to help raise funds for the city’s first Rope for Hope Red Deer event, which will raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Northern Alberta chapter.
Make-A-Wish Canada grants children with life-threatening conditions their “one true wish”, which could be a trip to Disneyland, or meeting a celebrity, said Heather Harcott, who is with the Northern Alberta chapter and organizing the Red Deer event.
Rope for Hope Red Deer participants can take part as individuals, in teams, or as part of a colleague group. Each person must raise $1,500 and in exchange they get to rappel down the Stantec building. There are several “Wish moms” taking part, Harcott said.
Rope For Hope is a national event with an overall goal of $1.6 million. The Red Deer goal is $76,000. All money raised locally stays within the chapter. The average wish costs about $10,000, said Harcott.
A third-party company that looks after the rappelling will come in the day before to set everything up. A test simulator tripod on the top of the roof will be set up so geared-up participants can sit in it and get comfortable with the equipment before they rappel the next day.
It takes between two and 15 minutes to rappel to the ground, depending on the comfort level of the participant, said Harcott. There will be music and vendors at the event, which goes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harcott did the event herself last year from a 23-storey hotel in Edmonton. “It’s a very good bucket list item to do.”
For more information and to register for Rope for Hope Red Deer, go online to makeawish.ca
barr@reddeeradvocate.com