DENVER: Colorado’s governor rappelled down a high-rise apartment building in downtown Denver to raise awareness for cancer recently, squeezing his eyes shut as he approached the sidewalk.
Gov. John Hickenlooper, clad in a bright-orange Denver Broncos jersey, described the 380-foot rappel as “pure fear, but nothing like facing cancer.” He descended the 32-floor building for the Cancer League of Colorado.
The Over The Edge fundraiser has been held since 2009 and draws notable figures such as local television reporters and sports team mascots.
Organizers said a limited number of people who raised at least $1,000 for the organization would get the chance to rappel down the prominent building right off Denver’s popular 16th Street Mall.
The Democratic governor had never rappelled down a building before, but it wasn’t his first risky stunt for a cause. While he was Denver’s mayor, he parachuted from an airplane in 2005 to raise awareness for a state ballot measure related to taxes.
Courtney Mizel, a cancer survivor, raised $31,000, an individual high amount for this year’s event. She was influential in securing Hickenlooper’s commitment and the pair rappelled the building on side-by-side ropes at the same time.
On the third-floor deck, at the end, they embraced, exchanged high fives and released shouts of joy.
The Over the Edge fundraiser continues through the weekend. About 200 rappellers will raise about $350,000 for the Cancer League.
Colorado governor rappels down Denver high-rise
Colorado governor rappels down Denver high-rise
