People with brain cancer face a lot of fears. On Sunday, Dec. 2, the nonprofit Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2<\/sup>) are giving them the opportunity to face a fear they can manage and control; rappelling down the side of a 365-foot building.<\/p>\n In its fifth year in San Diego, Over the Edge for Brain Cancer is a fundraising collaboration involving ABC2<\/sup>; Over the Edge, an adventure experience company that focuses on rappelling events for nonprofits; the Manchester Grand Hyatt; and Encore Event Technologies, the Hyatt\u2019s contracted audio-visual company.<\/p>\n Together, these organizations create an unparalleled experience for the survivors of brain cancer, those still struggling with the disease, and their family and friends.<\/p>\n For their part, participants in Over the Edge for Brain Cancer raise money through sponsorships and peer-to-peer fundraising \u2014 much like those who run a 5k would \u2014 for ABC2<\/sup>, which then grants the money toward research into medicines and cures for this rare and deadly disease. Since its inception, ABC2<\/sup> has provided more than 100 grants, totaling $120 million, including one to UC San Diego Health\u2019s Brain Cancer Center.<\/p>\n Sen. John McCain recently announced that he is one of the 12,000 people in the U.S. struggling with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and Sen. Ted Kennedy died of the disease in 2009. Brain cancer is also currently the leading type of pediatric cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found Over the Edge \u2013 a company based in Nova Scotia \u2013 and decided it was a great metaphor for our organization; specifically, because there is a perceived risk in rappelling down the side of a building and we also take risks in what we fund,\u201d said Mindy Hoff, director of communications for ABC2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may not be the things that everyone else is throwing money at but we think the research is a cool idea and might have some really lasting effects in breaking into research,\u201d she continued. \u201cAlso, our CEO [Max Wallace] calls us the \u2018secret team\u2019 \u2014 like a Seal Team \u2014 fighting the good fight. So [Over the Edge] matched our philosophy pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n The Manchester Grand Hyatt is the largest of the buildings ABC2<\/sup> has contracted for the event so far this year; others being Atlanta (240 feet), and Washington, D.C. (180 feet). An event at the San Francisco Grand Hyatt (300-plus feet) is in the works.<\/p>\n The two corporate sponsors, both with participating teams this year in San Diego, are MesaRim and Pacific Sotheby\u2019s, whose team will be going over first at 8 a.m.<\/p>\n A total of 76 people are scheduled to rappel down the side of the Hyatt on Dec. 2, something Hoff said generally takes about 10 minutes. Participants are from cities all across the country, but 75 percent are local. Many of the teams will wear shirts that honor those they are rappelling for and a slide show near the finish will tell their stories throughout the day.<\/p>\n Over the Edge personnel provide the tethers and leads on the building; get all the \u201cedgers\u201d set up in their harnesses, hard hats, cameras and radios; offer practice runs and training for participants; and oversee safety for the event.<\/p>\n The descent, however, is up to the individual; you control your time and speed. If anyone does get into a panic and can\u2019t finish, Hoff said, the team at Over the Edge will take over and lower you down safely.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an exhilarating experience and [the people at Over the Edge] are extraordinary,\u201d said Downtown resident, Judy Hawkins.<\/p>\n Hawkins got involved with Over the Edge for Brain Cancer last year, by chance. She said she met a young woman whose mother canceled a trip to support her descent. Hawkins decided to stand in for the woman\u2019s mother and found herself helping another young woman \u2014 whom she found sobbing and terrified \u2014 through her descent by using the gift of laughter. Later that day, Hawkins found herself going over the edge of the building, after another scheduled participant had canceled. She said she was hooked; on both the event and its cause.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know anyone with brain cancer, but I wanted to be there to support,\u201d Hawkins said. \u201cI love who they are and who they represent, and I have full intention of doing it this year and next year. I believe in it and I believe in them. They are good, good people.\u201d<\/p>\n Next year, Hawkins said she plans to get \u201cthe social heads\u201d of all the Downtown condominiums involved to sponsor participants and compete against each other.<\/p>\n Hoff, who is admittedly petrified of heights, said she participated in an Over the Edge for Brain Cancer event in her home base of Washington D.C., raising nearly $7,000 through personal sponsorships.<\/p>\n \u201cI figured I could not ask someone else to do it if I couldn\u2019t do it myself,\u201d she said. \u201cI was terrified until the moment I leaned back off the building; and then an extreme calm came over me. My sister died of melanoma five years ago, so my nephew did it with me. It was exhilarating and crazy, but I\u2019ve thought about doing it again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a pretty emotional day with a lot of survivors, a lot of medical practitioners, and friends or family of those who have passed away or are still fighting,\u201d Hoff said.<\/p>\n Hawkins said she spoke to a lot of the \u201cedgers\u201d last year.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were terrified and they all told me, \u2018It scares the hell out of me, but not as much as brain cancer.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n A minimum sponsorship fee of $1,500 is required to participate in the adventure and while teams for this year are already set, there is a wait list in case of cancellations and those interested can sign up for next year.<\/p>\n Over the Edge for Brain Cancer will raise $700,000 in 2017, with approximately $200,000 of that in San Diego.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the money we raise in San Diego for this specific event stays in San Diego,\u201d Hoff said.<\/p>\n Hoff is looking for volunteers to assist throughout the day with things such as registration, running the slide show, taking photos, assisting participants up to the roof, and helping them after they land. And they are always looking for people to just come out and support the \u201cedgers.\u201d Spectating is free.<\/p>\n Over the Edge for Brain Cancer will take place Sunday, Dec. 2, from 8 a.m.\u20136 p.m. at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, located at 1 Market Place and Harbor Drive, Downtown. A media and VIP day will take place Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1\u20134 p.m.<\/p>\n Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n visite abc2.org<\/a> or to volunteer, email Hoff at mindy.hoff@abc2.org<\/a>. Follow them on Twitter at @oteforbraincancer<\/a> and use the hashtag #oteforbraincancer when referring to them on social media.<\/p>\n![\"Rappelling](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/E0A0540.jpg\")
![\"Rappelling](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/REPELLING.j.jpg\")
residents involved in a fundraising competition next year. (Courtesy ABC2)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"Rappelling](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Judy.jpg\")