Sky high took on new meaning for participants in the United Way Billboard Rescue.
Participants left the safety of Mother Earth’s ground for 20 minutes on Thursday, strapped into scissor lifts where they whipped out their cell phones and methodically raced through their contact lists, desperately seeking donations to help the charity top up its largest single-day fundraiser of the year.
Gladys Berringer works with Our Kids Count and said it was a double win for her organization.
“We get to support the United Way, but as a funded agency, what we raise as a team comes back directly to support the programs at Our Kids Count.”
People they called were only too willing to help get them back to solid ground, though Berringer said some liked to make them sweat a bit.
“You call them and you say that you’re up on the lift and a lot of people say, ‘Great, have a nice day, you can stay up there,’” Berringer said, chuckling.
“But in the end they turn around they give you some money to get down. It’s a little chilly today, but we did well.”
In recent years, on average, the event raises about $150,000, totalling about $1.5 million since it was started 20 years ago.
This year’s event saw 35 teams take part, one more than in 2012.
Event co-sponsor Shawn Christie, who provided the Lowerys parking lot as a venue, said it was going great, with people lined up at the charity barbecue, burgers flying off the grill in record fashion.
“We’re on our way to $2 million, so we really need those last-minute pledges and for people answer the phone or come down here and make pledges as well,” Christie said.
“It’s a great day.”
Luckily, he added, the wind has died down.
Regardless of the weather, it’s a great cause to support.
“The United Way is helping out 29 agencies here in Thunder Bay, so all the money we raise for the event goes to help out so many different programs throughout the city, probably about 60 programs the United Way is helping out with,” Christie said.
“So it’s really crucial that we get this money in.”
The event runs until 4 p.m. on Thursday.
