Not everyone’s a fan of heights, but once a year more than 100 people put their fears aside for a worthy cause.
Carrie Nyitrai spent a good 20 minutes on Thursday suspended more than 50 feet in the air on a scissor lift, frantically phoning friends and family to bring her back to Earth, their donations helping organizers of the annual United Way Billboard Rescue surpass last year’s $148,00 total.
Nyitrai said it’s just one way she can give back to an organization that helps her workplace throughout the year.
“At Thunder Bay Counselling Centre the United Way supports the women and children we work with in the violence against women program. So it’s really important to get funds so that the women and children can have counseling for no cost.”
It was also a way for her to conquer her own fears.
“It was a little bit nervous, “she said. “I’m freezing, my hands are cold, but it was good. Once I was sitting down it was OK. And it’s for a very good cause.”
Co-worker Bill Liggins agreed.
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“We went up there because it’s an opportunity to help raise some funds for United Way and contribute to the community. And going up there is fun. It’s a chance to chat with some co-workers,” said Liggins, a board member at Thunder Bay Counselling Centre.
For Shawn Christie, the special events co-ordinator for the United Way, Thursday’s event was a good chance to gauge how well the 2012 campaign is likely to be.
“This is the largest single event the United Way puts on, probably one of the largest events that’s put on in Thunder Bay. Last year we raised $148,000 and we’re hoping to exceed that this year,” he said.
The final total fell a bit short at $142,539, but organizers said several last-minute pledges are still pending, which could up the total before all is said and done.
“This a really pinnacle event for us. We use this as a measuring stick. If this event is successful, we know that’s going to carry through the year and the momentum is going to keep the snowball going. Hopefully at the end of the year the United Way is going to be able to meet their goal.”
A total of 34 teams took place in 2012, a great start to the annual fundraising season, said campaign chairwoman Carol Busch.
“The billboard rescue is one of the events that historically raises one of the most amounts of money. We’re looking at this setting the stage for our upcoming campaign and it’s really important. We’ve got 28 agencies and 67 programs that rely on the funding from United Way.”
Earlier in the day former mayors Ken Bohcoff, Jack Masters and Lynn Peterson were hoisted into the morning sunshine, completing their pledges to support the charity, part of their own Mayors R Us campaign.
Mayor Keith Hobbs also helped raise funds, but is still in Japan as part of Thunder Bay’s Sister Cities delegation.
