What is Over the Edge for Special Olympics Oklahoma?
Over the Edge for Special Olympics Oklahoma is a signature fundraising event that sends participants rappelling down the side a building. Not only is it a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it raises money for a great cause - Special Olympics Oklahoma!
What can I expect when I'm participating in Over the Edge?
You will be wearing a full-body industrial harness and using an industrial descender to go down. To go down you will be squeezing a handle, and to stop you will need to let go of the handle (or pull back). You will be anchored to a back-up line, which is controlled from the top. You will control the speed of your decent. Should you go too fast, or should the equipment fail, the back-up line will engage.
Getting your weight off the roof and into the harness is the difficult part for most people. Once you’re over the edge you are on your own. You can stop and take in the view, you can look into peoples’ windows, you can flip upside down if you want.
It will take between 8 and 15 minutes to get to the bottom. The harness will squeeze your hips, and scrunch-up your shoulders. Some people feel as though rappelling is a good abdominal workout because of the semi-sitting position it requires. The squeezing motion to activate the descender requires quite a bit of force and using the same hand the entire way down can be tiring. You can stop to rest, or switch hands when you need a break. In general, inexperienced rappellers tend to find themselves with tired hands at the bottom. If you keep your feet on the concrete/glass it is easy to maintain the correct position. You won’t spin around, or fall into the building. If you push off with your feet you can bounce outwards. The further out you bounce, the more difficult it is to control your spin. Large bounces outward can result in crashes back into the windows, so bounces should be kept small.
What if I am unable to raise the minimum amount prior to the event date?
If you are unable to raise the minimum amount by the event date, you can either decide to donate your proceeds to Special Olympics Oklahoma and not participate in the Over the Edge event or you can supply a credit card to Special Olympics Oklahoma to make up the difference.
When you arrive on site you will have the opportunity to practice rappelling from a lesser height. This will give you a chance to hang in the harness, find a comfortable position, and practice using the descender. You can practice as often as you’d like before heading to the roof. The same safety procedures are used in the training as in the long rappel so you will be familiar with them when you get there.
You’re going to be walking down the side of a building so wear good shoes. Sneakers, light hikers, climbing shoes, something with a soft, light colored sole. No slippers, sandals, slip-on shoes, high heels, or steel toed boots. Wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt. Athletic pants, tights, and jeans are suitable. The harness goes around your legs, waist, and shoulders, so it is best to avoid anything too bulky. Shirts should be comfortable and without draw cords. Individuals with long hair should tie it back. You will be given a pair of leather gloves and a helmet when you arrive.
The most common complaint from participants after rappelling is that their forearm got sore during the descent. The squeezing motion required isn’t difficult, but over a long time it can get tiring. Proper technique and switching arms makes a lot of difference, but using a squeeze ball once in awhile doesn’t hurt either.
If you'd like more practice, go rock climbing. Not only does rock climbing strengthen your forearms, but also it allows you to hang in a harness. Although the harnesses we use are different, you will still get the idea of where you will be squeezed, and what muscles it takes to stay up-right. Get psyched. Tell your friends.
We do not want any objects dropped over the side. If you bring your camera rappelling please make sure it has a lanyard that we can tie to your harness. Sorry, no phones on the roof.
Can friends and family watch me as I go Over the Edge?
Friends and other supporters are encouraged to come to the event site and watch you rappel down the building. There will be special activities going on throughout the day that they can take advantage of.
Unfortunately friends of the participants will not be allowed on the rooftop since only those with safety harnesses and anchors will be admitted. If you really want someone up there with you, convince them to go Over the Edge with you! There will be a photographer ensuring that each participant gets pictures of him or herself going Over the Edge.
I accidentally registered twice. What should I do?
In order to properly track your online donations, it is best that you only have one online
registration record. (unless you are participating in multiple events)
If you have accidentally registered twice, please contact info@sook.org or call Jennifer Lightle at (918) 481-1234 or toll free (800) 722-9004 and one of the records will be deleted.
Donations linked to the deleted account will be credited to the active account.
How do I add or change a photo to my online donation
page?
Log in to manage your fund raising web page. Under the heading "Your Web Page Photo" click on "Browse"
to choose a photo file from your computer. Then click on "Update Photo". Photos must
be jpg format and under 2 MB.
Special Olympics Oklahoma closely monitors all pictures uploaded to the Over the Edge website. We reserve the right to delete any inappropriate content including pictures.
I am missing a donation that was made online. What
should I do?
If you don't see a donation, first try to refresh, or reload your browser (hit F5).
If you still do not see the donation, contact Jennifer Lightle at (918) 491-1234 or toll free (800) 722-9004 or e-mail info@sook.org.
I can't participate in the event that I have registered for. What happens to the donations I've received?
Online donations received will be credited to your local Special Olympics Oklahoma office.
If you have raised enough donations to be eligible for an incentive, you can still receive
that incentive.
Is there a donation form that I can
use for cash and check donations?
Yes. You can print out a donation form and use it to track your cash and check donations.
Then you can turn this in during check-in for the event. Download donation form.
How can I thank donors who have pledged to me online?
If the donor provides an e-mail address during the online donation process, this e-mail
address will appear on your "Online donations received" page (log in required). There is also an e-mail form you can use to thank your donors on this page.
