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For a good cause, people will do almost anything — even jump off an 11-story Hamilton Street building

From the alley next to Two City Center, the rappelers looked like ants. After all, they were 11 stories up.From the roof, it was a different image. The rappelers were gazing down at onlookers, who were craning their necks and waiting. While anticipation filled those on the street, those on the roof were gripped with anxiety or downright fear. These people are rappelling down 11 stories here at Two City Center! https://t.co/nyx01Gmzin— Ashley Stalnecker (@Ashley_Stal) June 1, 2019Lehigh Conference of Churches partnered with Over the Edge and City Center to host the second annual Valley Over the Edge event Saturday in downtown Allentown, where people raised about $1,000 each for the conference and the right to rappel off the building. About 70 people participated.Money donated to the organization will help people living below the poverty line in the Lehigh Valley. Last year, this event raised enough money to serve 26,732 meals at the conference’s soup kitchen and helped 1,792 people with housing.Before jumping over the edge, participants received a short training from Over the Edge professionals. Sara Tsiropinas, a Bronx native, taught each rappeller, or “edger,” how to lower themselves down a practice wall with their ropes and harnesses. Over the Edge, which is based in Canada, helps nonprofit organizations raise money through rappelling events. Tsiropinas said the Allentown event was one of six this weekend.Volunteers, including several Allentown firefighters, were trained a day earlier, to help the edgers and ensure their safety.After the training, edgers were hooked up to two large structures on the roof, enabling them to securely descend Two Center City, an office building on the 600 block of Hamilton Street, Olga Pirone of Allentown, rappels down the 11-story Two City Center in downtown Allentown to raise money for the Lehigh Conference of Churches. (SHARON K. MERKEL/)And off she goes. Olga Pirone of Allentown was among 76 brave “edgers” who rappelled for charity on Saturday. (SHARON K. MERKEL/)David Creveling and Christina Price rappelled together at 10:30 a.m. Price raised $400 in donations and Creveling raised $1,532, the fifth largest sum for the event.Price wanted to raise awareness for Legend of Allentown, a senior living organization in Macungie where she works.“I thought it was a great way to support the local community and talk about our organization as well,” Price said.The pastor of Christ Lutheran Church volunteered Creveling, the church’s director of facilities, who easily agreed to raise money for the Conference of Churches. Asked what he was feeling leading up to the jump, Creveling replied with one word, “fear.”Afterwards, he felt differently.“It was a really interesting feeling,” Creveling said. “It was really neat. I’d do it again.”For rappellers and those not rappelling, there was a “landing party” on terra firma in the park behind Two City Center, with live music, food, and activities. David Quinn, a pastor at St. John’s UCC, Fullerton in Whitehall, had at least three people cheering him on with signs saying “Go Pastor Dave.” The congregation raised $2,361.75 for Quinn to jump.“They’re very brave to do that,” said congregation member Carol Raszler. “And crazy.”“And they believe in the cause,” added the Rev. Becky Beckwith, senior pastor.The rappelling will continue until 4 p.m. Saturday.
Source: Morningcall

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