R(a)pelling Stigma: PCHC Goes Over the Edge for Recovery
Adventure Fundraising Event to Be Held October 17 at Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center
Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) has partnered with Over the Edge to bring a brand new event to Bangor this October. R(a)pelling Stigma is an adventure fundraiser featuring an exciting opportunity for members of the public to rappel down the Cross Insurance Center on Main Street and help r(a)pell stigma around substance use disorder! All funds raised will go to needed and necessary substance use disorder treatment and services within our local community.
The event will begin at 9:00 am on Wednesday, October 17 and will run throughout the day. The public is invited to cheer on rappellers, visit sponsor booths, and enjoy food, games, and live music, as well as inspirational speakers. To secure their opportunity to go Over the Edge, each participating “Edger” will need to raise a minimum of $1,000. Potential participants are encouraged to visit ote.pchc.com to reserve their spot and create a personal fundraising page that enables friends, family, and colleagues to donate funds towards their rappelling adventure. Registration for Edgers opens today. The first 100 participants to raise $1,000 will earn the opportunity to go Over the Edge for Recovery! Those not ready to go over the edge can still participate by donating $100 or more to gain entry into the “Chicken Coop,” or by gathering co-workers and collectively raising money to “Toss Your Boss” over the edge. 5% of the money raised will go to support the work of the Community Health Leadership Board (CHLB).
Over The Edge is a special events company that provides signature events for non-profit organizations anywhere in North America and it is currently expanding globally. Business leaders, individuals and community members are invited to raise donations in exchange for the experience of going “over the edge” of a local building. Over The Edge to date has raised over $70 Million for non-profits around the world, including the Make-a Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics Boston.
PCHC has exclusive rights to stage Over the Edge events in the greater Bangor region. “This is one of the biggest fundraisers PCHC has done to date,” explains PCHC President and CEO, Lori Dwyer. “It will be an exciting and unforgettable adventure for the 100 rappellers and a rewarding experience for sponsors who take the opportunity to support this innovative approach to repelling the stigma around substance use disorder and fighting the opioid epidemic in our community!”
Dwyer also commented, “The community’s participation in ‘R(a)pelling Stigma: PCHC Goes Over the Edge for Recovery’ will literally save lives. Last year, we lost 418 of our neighbors, friends, and family to opioid overdoses in Maine. But, by raising funds to improve access to treatment and recovery services, lives will be saved! The biggest barrier to treatment is the stigma that comes from those who act as if substance use disorder is not a real disease. PCHC wants the community to come together and actively repel this stigma by going over the edge for recovery!”
Sponsorship and promotional opportunities are available for businesses and individuals who wish to help PCHC reach its fundraising goal of $100,000. To learn more, visit ote.pchc.com or contact Sarah Dubay, Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer, sdubay@pchc.com or (207)992-9200 to discuss sponsorship options and availability. For general information about PCHC’s Over the Edge event, visit ote.pchc.com