Binghamton’s DoubleTree hotel turned into a rappelling wall today in a first-of-its-kind fundraiser for Catholic Charities of Broome County.
Lisa Beach of Binghamton’s Indulgence salon was one of 30 people who each raised $1,000 for the chance to rappel. The crowd craned their heads back to watch as she stepped off the ten-story hotel. Her son Dominick cheered his mom on as she neared the ground without holding on to the ropes.
“She was fearless, with her arms out like this,” he gestured, throwing his arms wide. “She did awesome!”
Earlier in the day, Catholic Charities’ executive director Lori Accardi had her turn on the ropes.
“The first step over the edge is the hardest one because you’re on the edge of the wall, and then you have to make that decision to put your body over,” Accardi says.
She says that fits right in with her organization. “The first step is the hardest when you’re reaching out and asking for help,” she says. “A lot of people are too proud to ask for help.”
Accardi adds that the flashy event is great for raising awareness. Todd Medeiros, a rope technician with Over the Edge, which ran the rappelling, says that’s what fundraisers have to do these days.
“Everyone has run for this, jogged for that, walked for this, played golf,” he says. “The market was really crying out for something other than a 5K or a golf outing.”
Dropping from the roof of a ten-story building could be just the thing.