Look United Way up

People are trapped forty feet above the ground and the only way they can get rescued is by calling their friends and family for financial help.

The 19th annual United Way of Thunder Bay Great Billboard Rescue kicked off Thursday morning with 34 teams, with up to four member, being raised into the sky with nothing but a telephone as they have 20 minutes to call for pledges. It’s the United Way’s largest fundraising event of the year said campaign co-chair Jules Tupker.

"It’s a huge part of our campaign," Tupker said. "The goal is to raise as much money as possible. Obviously we’re trying to beat last year’s total, it’s always nice to get more money than the year before and the need never ends."

Last year brought in $130,000 of the more than $1.3 million raised since the event started 18 years ago. Tupker credits the familiarity of the event with its success.

"It’s a well-known event and people are eager to help," Tupker said.

It’s easy getting teams together and collecting pledges. The hardest part is convincing teams to go up as high as the scissor lift can go.

On windy days, unlike the beautiful sunny day Thursday morning, it can be tough to get people on the lift.

"The hard part is getting all four people to go up to the very top," Tupker laughed. "It’s about 40 feet up."

The total amount of money raised for the event will be known Thursday evening.