Participants rappel down Tiger Hotel to raise funds for Special Olympics Missouri

Over the Edge sponsored the event.

By Victoria Guida

Published Oct. 4, 2009

Those who were brave enough and had raised $1,000, were able to rappel, or descend down the side via rope, down Tiger Hotel on Saturday.

The event, sponsored by Over the Edge, was a fundraiser for the Special Olympics Missouri. Joe Buechter, associate area director for Special Olympics Central Area, said this is the first time the event has been done but they hope it will become an annual fundraiser.

“Special Olympics is always looking for new and creative ways to raise money for our athletes,” Buechter said.

Buechter said the hotel has been very helpful and hosted the event for free. He said it was an obvious choice for the event due to its height and significance in Columbia.

“It’s kind of an icon in Columbia,” Buechter said. “It was the first and only place we considered.”

Some members of the ROTC belayed for the participants. Belaying involves using a partner or a device to keep friction on a climbing line, so if a climber falls, the taut line ensures they do not drop too far. Charles Pleasant and Jared Jobe said they received an e-mail Thursday and decided to volunteer.

“We’re always looking to volunteer, especially when there’s a shortage,” Pleasant said. “It’s why we do what we do.”

For safety purposes, the people belaying and rappelling were equipped with Walkie Talkies so they could communicate.

“It’s as safe as sitting in your living room,” Buechter said.

Matt Parker, the first person to rappel, said it was still a little scary.

“The scariest is when you’re over the edge,” Parker said. “You look down and it seems a lot farther than the three-story practice.”

Parker, an assistant principal at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson City, said he got involved at the prompting of his colleagues.

“It’s doing something exciting, and the kids get excited,” Parker said. “I didn’t raise all the money myself, it was mostly the kids.”

Ralph Gates, another man who rappelled, heard about the event from a co-worker who works with the Special Olympics. He said he hasn’t rappelled since he was part of the ROTC at MU and he enjoyed the experience.

The sponsor group, Over the Edge, is a Canadian company that supports non-profit organizations.

“They’re top-of-the-line people,” Buechter said.

The event, which lasted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., went very smoothly, he said.

“Overall, I think the event was fantastic," he said. "The volunteers were just phenomenal and I really think that everyone that came had a great time. One really cool thing that we didn’t expect, we had one of our athletes go over and she was so excited. She was the highlight of the day.”

A Special Olympics Missouri mascot, Shiver Bear, also made an appearance.

Buechter said the money raised for Special Olympics stays local.

Special Olympics hosts more than 400 events per year across the state. Its next event, College Trivia Night, will take place Oct. 28.