NEWS RELEASE

Immediate: July 17, 2012 Media Contact: Alicia Steger516.572.9634Email: Alicia.Steger@ncc.eduncc.edu/newsreleases

People to Rappel Off the Side of the NCC Tower Building— All for a Good Cause

Nassau Community College's Special Olympics Fundraising Goes to New Heights on October 12

 

Garden City, NY – It's not often – or in fact, ever – that you'll have seen people rappel off the side of the Tower Building on the campus of Nassau Community College. But those who come to the NCC-sponsored "Over the Edge" event on Friday, October 12 will see just that, all in aid of raising money for Special Olympics.On that day, a wide variety of participants, including thrill-seekers, avid rappellers, first-timers and people who just want to help raise money for a worthy cause will find their way 13 stories down the side of the Tower with the help of professionals from Over the Edge. Over the Edge runs all day, and anyone is welcome to stay, but each rappel will take about an hour and a half.NCC is very proud to participate in this event, according to Dr. Ken Saunders, Officer in Charge. "We are honored to partner with Special Olympics New York in this important fundraising event," he said. "Special Olympics provides vital and empowering services to the special athletes in our area."Participants in Over the Edge need not have prior experience in order to rappel. They'll start out about an hour before their scheduled rappel in a staging room where all their equipment will be laid out: harnesses, helmets and gloves. Then they'll continue on to a practice round, probably about three stories high, before the big event.Each of the rappellers will have raised at least $1,000 in donations. Diane Colonna, Regional Director of Special Olympics New York, Inc., Long Island Region, noted that all of the proceeds from the event will go to Long Island's local Special Olympics organization, which aids over 4,200 athletes from Nassau and Suffolk counties. "We are thrilled to be partnering with NCC on this event. We are hopeful that at least 100 people will rappel down the Tower, raise much needed funds for our program, and experience the opportunity of a lifetime," she said.Anyone interested in participating in the NCC/Special Olympics Over the Edge event on October 12 should contact Special Olympics New York, Inc., Long Island Region, at 631.254.1465 X11 or sony.kintera.org/LIOTE.

 About Nassau Community CollegeNassau Community College, part of the State University of New York, is an institution where nearly 23,000 full- and part-time students and almost 15,000 continuing and professional students start and continue their successful journey through higher education. More than 70 fields of study are offered on a 225-acre campus located in the center of Long Island. As the largest single-campus two-year college in New York State, Nassau Community College maintains a national reputation for excellence.

About Special Olympics New YorkSpecial Olympics New York provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. There are no fees or costs connected with services provided by Special Olympics New York.

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