On Friday, I rappelled down 11 stories. I volunteered to go "Over the Edge" for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley's 7th-annual OTE for the Kids' Sake fundraiser. Myself and around 80 other "Edgers" rappelled down Hotel Blackhawk Friday and Saturday.
The event helps Big Brothers Big Sisters expand its one-on-one youth mentoring programs — an important connection for some Quad-City students, or "Littles" in the program. "It actually helps me and other kids a lot with building our personality and our character, and its helped a lot with school," said Rylan Speer, a BBBS Little who just started his sixth-grade year at Smart Intermediate School in Davenport. "And, we have someone to talk to if we have problems," he said, adding his three years in BBBS has helped him grow more confident, too.
Now, when it comes to stuff like rappelling, I'm a bit of a thrill-seeker. Heights have never really scared me, and I'm a big fan of the views that come with a good ol' elevated surface. So when The Quad-City Times said they needed a volunteer, I was happy to do it.
It failed to really hit me — that I'd be traversing down 140 feet with no prior rappelling experience — until mid-day Friday. If you happened to be stuck inside Friday evening, it was beautiful and sunny. I walked from the office to Hotel Blackhawk and barely broke a sweat.
I was sure to arrive early, as to give myself enough time to work any nerves out before going OTE. I spent about an hour chilling and cha.