COhatch Newsstand Team Overcomes Fears and Soars to New Heights for Gracehaven Over The Edge Event
Delaware, Ohio – The Gracehaven Over The Edge event witnessed an awe-inspiring display of bravery and determination as members of the COhatch Newsstand team conquered their fears and rappelled down The Chase Tower in downtown Columbus. With hearts pounding and adrenaline surging, Laurie Lendon and Jorge Sanclemente, representing COhatch, defied their limitations and raised awareness for the fight against human trafficking.
Delaware’s COhatch Newsstand Team Rappels for a Cause: Ending Child Sex-Trafficking
Lendon, still buzzing with adrenaline, described the experience as both terrifying and unbelievable. When asked about her first thought as she got to the edge of the Chase Building, Lendon gave a resounding “AHHHHHHHHH!” Lendon confessed “this was the most frightening and exhilarating thing I’ve ever done,” reflecting on the mixture of emotions that coursed through her during the event. As she ascended to the top of the towering Chase Tower, Lendon found herself trying to suppress thoughts of the dizzying height. However, reality hit when the group disembarked on the 21st floor and began their ascent up the stairs, navigating obstacles and equipment along the way. The gravity of the situation began to sink in. Yet, amidst the nervousness, Lendon found solace in the cheering volunteers and motivational signs at every turn, serving as constant reminders of the cause they were championing.
The true test arrived when Lendon went “Over the Edge.” Despite the initial difficulty, she found comfort in the attentive support of the event staff, ensuring her safety at every step. With guidance from the team, she gingerly positioned herself on the ledge of the building, her heels slightly hanging over the edge. Lendon admitted to stealing a glance downward and being struck by the sheer height. Gathering her courage, she was encouraged to relax, as if resting her feet on an ottoman, and then the moment arrived. With determination, Lendon took her first step into the unknown, embracing the exhilarating plunge with unwavering resolve.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent COhatch, Lendon eagerly anticipates future events and hopes to rally an entire team to raise funds for Gracehaven. “I’m thankful that Jorge and I had the opportunity to represent COhatch, and I can’t wait to do it again in 2024. I’d love to see a whole team of us raising money for Gracehaven,” she shared enthusiastically.
For Sanclemente, the experience was equally breathtaking. As he approached the edge, he marveled at the height, admitting that the true magnitude only dawned on him when he was up close. “That’s pretty high. You don’t have any expectations of how high it is until you get up there, and then, like, oh my gosh!” Sanclemente exclaimed, recounting the awe-inspiring view from the summit. The exhilaration of going down the building, combined with the knowledge that his participation was contributing to a worthy cause, made the event even more meaningful for him.
While the COhatch team embraced the thrill and conquered their personal fears, the overarching purpose of the event was to support Gracehaven and their tireless efforts to combat child sex trafficking. Gracehaven, an outreach program of Central Ohio Youth for Christ, provides critical services to survivors and aims to prevent the exploitation of youth. Despite the team’s valiant efforts, Gracehaven fell short of their $280,000 fundraising goal this year, which would have bolstered prevention education, intervention training, and much-needed services for victims. For those interested in making a contribution, further information can be found at https://gracehavenovertheedge.com/cohatch-1/ .
