Stephanie Morris will be taking the plunge literally and figuratively on Oct. 4.
The 26-year-old Chattanooga woman will be one of several people rappelling over the side of the 20-story downtown SunTrust building as one of the kickoff events for RiverRocks 2012, the third annual family-friendly, environmentally conscious festival that celebrates the Tennessee Valley's outdoor lifestyle.
The feat is part of Over the Edge, a fundraising event that has helped nonprofit organizations across the country for nearly 10 years.
Morris, like other participants with no previous rappelling experience, is committed to raising $1,000 for the Boy Scouts of America Cherokee Area Council by taking part in the event. She will be ably and safely assisted by a group of community rappellers called Edgers.
She will be raising money in memory of her uncle, Mike Palmertree, 47, who died in Memphis in June and had previously been an Eagle Scout, a Scoutmaster and was awarded the Vigil Honor, the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow on its members for service to lodge, council and Scouting.
Morris, 26, a finance assist for the Cherokee Area Council, said she'd seen pamphlets publicizing the event in the council office and thought it sounded fun.
"Once my uncle passed away," she said, "I decided I wanted to do it for sure, knowing how involved he was with Scouting."
Morris said she expects she'll get some training in rappelling between now and October. She's been assured, she said, the Over the Edge organization -- which has a spotless safety record -- has trained crews that come in and assist.
Nevertheless, she said, "I'll pray the whole way down."
Morris will take the plunge on Oct. 4, while her fellow participants who commit to raising money will follow on Oct. 5.
Organizers said local residents can get their bosses involved in the action by initiating a "Toss the Boss" campaign with their coworkers or can help raise money to dare a celebrity or politician to take the challenge.
To register for Over the Edge or for more information, call Chattanooga Presents at 265-0771, the Cherokee Area Council at 892-8323 or visit www.OverTheEdgeChattanooga.com or www.RiverRocksChattanooga.com.
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