Next weekend, rappel down the side of an eight-story building to support Libera’s programs for at-risk youth.
Going down? Forget about elevators and stairs—participants registered to “Go Over the Edge For Libera” will take a faster way from the roof to the sidewalk at 235 High Street next weekend. On April 23, the eight-story Monongahela building will host a unique fundraising event to support at-risk youth in West Virginia. We spoke with Karen Haring—founder and executive director of Libera, the Morgantown-based nonprofit that organized the event—to learn more.
“We actually have two days of events,” Haring says. “Ten media and VIP participants will rappel on Friday, April 22, from 1 to 4 p.m., and then the big event will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.” A few blocks will be closed to traffic during these hours to ensure everyone’s safety and make space for crowds to gather.
About 50 people are registered to rappel on Saturday, according to Haring, and together they’ve raised over $40,000 for Libera. There’s still time to register on Libera’s website, and there are only two requirements: 1) body weight between 100 and 300 pounds, and 2) at least $1,000 pledged in donations.
Besides rappelling, this event will have plenty of other entertainment too—a D.J., a photo booth, food trucks, children’s activities, and more. Libera will have an information table where you can learn about its work, and Diane Tarantini and Jessie Haring—the author and illustrator, respectively, of The Brave Knight—will also have a table set up to talk about their book.
To Karen Haring, Go Over the Edge For Libera is not only a unique, high-energy fundraising event, but also a reflection of her organization’s mission of empowerment. “We listen to people’s stories, and we help them identify barriers in their lives and connect them to resources to overcome these barriers,” she says. “So, rappelling sort of represents Libera, because most people are a little bit afraid to rappel—it’s kind of a barrier. And it’s a very empowering experience to face that barrier of fear.”
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM MORGANTOWN LOWDOWN
Leave a Reply