Dozens to dangle from Phoenix high rise

PHOENIX - Talk about gaining a new perspective.

Dozens of brave, and not so brave souls, rappelled down the 17-story One Lexington condominium development in midtown Phoenix Wednesday morning.

It's part of the " Over the Edge" fundraising campaign, where the first 100-people to raise $1,000 or more for Special Olympics of Arizona were allowed to descend the glass and steel structure of One Lexington.

Adding to the festivities, two reality television stars will also took the leap.

Dave Lingwood and Duncan Penn of MTV's "The Buried Life" latched onto their respective ropes and took the plunge.

In the hit series, the two travel the country crossing off items on their bucket list while helping people along the way.

The help paid off for the Special Olympics. The event raised $50,000 for the organization. Money was still being counted Wednesday morning.

I had the opportunity to rappel myself. I had taken to the roped before, but never on the side of a s16-story building!

I wasn't nervous. That is until the short training session. Technicians from Over the Edge took me up to the very top of the building, locked me into the harness, attached me to the rope, and told me to leaned back and hang on.

That's when it became real.

It was only practice, but when you're that high above the ground, it goes against everything sensible.

After scaling down a 12-foot section of wall, the technicians said I was ready.

With carabiniers clanking together and a harness limited my movement somewhat, I staggered over to the "primary" where I was to step off.

Brian, the tech who roped me up said this was the point where people begin to freak out.

I stayed calm, mainly because of distractions.

We were live on the air and streaming online. One photographer, Isaac Salazar stayed with me on top so I could talk with our Now@9 anchors.

Brett Phillips was on the ground looking up, and our crew high above in Air 15 were watching us as well.

The earpiece I was wearing hissed as the transmission began in my ear. I can what you hear at home, but it's not as loud. Perhaps my thumping heart drowned out the sound.

Soon, I stepped up to the ledge, stood up on it and leaned back, butting my faith in the roped and the skilled technicians who strung them up.

Pretty soon, my feet are bouncing off the building and I'm descending. I finally grew the courage to look down and noticed dozens of bystanders looking up.

What a feeling. I was flying!

It was remarkably quiet on the side of the building. I could see my reflection in the windows, and I could even spot people in their condominiums as I descended.

I hope they didn't see me. I didn't mean to be a creeper.

As I inched closer tot he ground I realized how supportive our community is.

Dozens raised a thousand dollars or more to earn the rappelling trip.

Many more donated what they could to the Special Olympics of Arizona.

Because of them, and their $50,000 worth of donations, a great organization can help some fantastic people.

I talked with some of those who rappelled first, and many were understandably apprehensive.

But there is a parallel in all of this.

Many of us were overcoming our fear of heights. A clear challenge to those who stood atop One Lexington with me.

But those who compete in the Special Olympics face their challenges in an even bigger way. They give it all they've got not because they have to, but because they want to. And at the end, all they want is a hug.

I think all of gained a new perspective on life 17-stories above the city.