Here it is: the descent!

Thanks again to everyone who donated and everyone that will donate (CLICK HERE) to the Special Olympics of NY to provide differently abled athletes and their families with services, equipment, [...]]]> Thanks to Rob Madeo of Keyboard Krumbs for providing the camera and setup for this.

Here it is: the descent!

Thanks again to everyone who donated and everyone that will donate (CLICK HERE) to the Special Olympics of NY to provide differently abled athletes and their families with services, equipment, and events at no charge. Our team alone raised over $2100, which will make a ton of difference.

Again, on behalf of myself and especially the Special Olympics of New York, THANK YOU!

And here’s me on the wall looking evil:

I'm laughing at Meghan Mae, who is cursing me as this was being taken.

I’m at the Crowne Plaza for Over the Edge, and our first rappellers are about to go down! Here’s the view from the top:

I’m excited and nervous, but that’s neither here nor there.

The important thing is that you readers raised in excess of $2,000 for [...]]]> Hey everyone!

I’m at the Crowne Plaza for Over the Edge, and our first rappellers are about to go down! Here’s the view from the top:

I’m excited and nervous, but that’s neither here nor there.

The important thing is that you readers raised in excess of $2,000 for Special Olympics of NY. Dreams will be realized and self-esteems boosted due to your kindness. So on behalf of the Special Olympics of NY, thank you for your generosity.

And if you haven’t already, you still can still donate by visiting the website. A little bit makes all the difference in the world for the athletes and their families.

We (me and teammate Meghan Mae) go down at 3:30pm.

THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE

• 10am-3pm WGNA’s Kevin Richards –on site for a live remote
• 10:50am Erin Regazzo – Director of Marketing at the Times Union Center to rappel
• 11:00am Professional Boxers Vinny Maddalone, Shannon Miller and Mike Faragon along with Pugnacious Promotions owner Lisa Elovich to rappel
• 11am-1pm Tri-City Valley Cats Mascots
• 12pm-2pm WGNA’s Donation Request Lunch Hour
• 12:45-1:30 Capital Technical Rescue’s Special Ops Challenge with: APD Assistant Chief Brendan Cox, Army Nat’l Guard Sgt Scott Leslie, NYSID’s Frank Heuer
• 2:10pm Jeff Michaelson – Director of Catering at the Crowne Plaza to rappel
• 3:00pm Jared from Melville’s Mug to rappel– Melville’s will also sell tickets to throw water balloons at Jared while scaling the rock wall
• 3:35pm Times Union Blogger Kevin Marshall to rappel
• 5:50pm Tim Minahan – TD Bank VP to rappel
• 7:00pm After party begins at McGeary’s Irish Pub

I’ll be tweeting throughout the today! Follow @KevinMarshall to get updates throughout the day.

Join OTE on Facebook for updates

Also, congratulations to Laurel H. who won the $25 Target Gift Card!

Pfeil opened in the location of the old Stanley’s. I recall making trips down there as a child, and [...]]]>

Pfeil Hardware, nustled on the corner of 3rd and State in downtown Troy.

PLUG! I just wanted to give a quick thanks to Pfeil Hardware in downtown Troy for their generous donation towards our goal of raising funds for Special Olympics New York through the Over the Edge fundraiser.

Pfeil opened in the location of the old Stanley’s. I recall making trips down there as a child, and the excitement that was had in leaving our crowded apartment for the open space of downtown and our very own department store. Then one day it was gone, and it remained vacant for the entirety of my adolescence, teenage years, and until recently my entire adult life. For me, that large empty storefront – cavernous and littered with a decade of informal repairs and dilapidated materials – exemplified the economic situation of the city. Where once there was a thriving department, there was instead for many years an empty, ghostly shell.

But now, finally, a business has occupied the space. And not just any business, but one that is steadfast in its dedication to building and becoming a part of a thriving community. Pfeil Hardware is, naturally, a business. But it can also serve as a symbol for all the positive change that has occurred in our city over the course of the last five years and the hope that things can and will be better, so long as the right people are involved.

All indications are this is definitely the case. So thanks again, Pfeil, for your continued contributions and in particular your generosity to my goal of raising funds for the Special Olympics of New York.

Also, if you get a chance, like them on Facebook.

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Check this space later today for another fundraising announcement! If you would like to donate and help us meet our goal to get thrown off the Crowne Plaza, CLICK HERE.