In the News
Congressmen rappellingClick here to read the news story
Washington, DC,
June 28, 2019
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By Allegra Boverman
U .S. Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas each went out on a limb on Friday. Actually, they went out on a rope, as they took part in the United Way’s Over the Edge fundraiser at the Brady Sullivan Tower. They had been invited to do so by Michelle Lawrence of Manchester, a clinical care manager at Moore Center. Lawrence raised about $3,000 for invisible diseases and is celebrating 10 years being leukemia-free. “This is my big hurrah,” she said of the experience. “Don’t let disease stop you.” Participants in the fundraiser rappel 300 feet, or 24 floors, from the roof of the Brady-Sullivan Tower with the help of experts to support the Greater Nashua and Manchester communities. Kuster and Pappas both said the experience was exhilarating, but getting over the edge of the roof was challenging at first. “Once you get started it was fun,” Kuster said. She has rappelled on rocks in the past, which was a different experience than on the side of a tall metal and glass building. The weather was clear and spectacular, and the views endless on Friday. And en route down, “you get a nice reflection (of the city) in the windows,” Pappas said. Though they all started together, Pappas and Kuster got to the bottom before Lawrence. They cheered with the other onlookers as Lawrence spread her arms out wide like she was an eagle as she made her way down. Greater Nashua United Way President Mike Apfelberg said of the event, “This is so unique. Right here (at the Brady -Sullivan Tower plaza) there are 10 nonprofits right now, cheering each other on. You usually see people cheering for their own causes, but here they’re cheering for each other. We love that partnership.” Apfelberg said the two-day “Over the Edge” event has grown from eight nonprofits and 80 participants three years ago to 23 nonprofits and 130 people participating. |