Over the Edge for the Special Olympics

Would you jump off a building to raise money for the Missouri Special Olympics? Several EPIC employees took the leap as participants in  Over the Edge . EPIC’s team included:

• Jen Seitz, EPIC’s Director of Administration Finance
• Maria Holt, Marketing Coordinator
• Justin Strate, IT Systems Administrator
• John Schott, EPIC’s President

The original plan was to rappel down the side of the Four Seasons Hotel at Lumiere Place in St. Louis on October 6th. Due to severe wind and lightning on the day event, they were given the option to travel to Jefferson City and rappel 13 stories down the Jefferson State Office Building on Oct. 20th instead. The team took up the challenge, leaving St. Louis at 6:00am for the 8:00am rappel in Jefferson City, and experienced the rush of rappelling on a beautiful fall day.

Seitz organized the fundraising effort for EPIC this year. She was a participant the previous year and the driver behind the EPIC team. “Last year, this event was my personal motivator for overcoming a significant injury, and what an injury it was,” said Seitz. When she was approached to participate last year, her arm was casted, with surgery pending. “I had to hesitate in response due to the physical limitations of my “temporary” injury. I had to stop and question if my body, and arm, could really be ready. What an awesome challenge the mere question sparked,” Seitz recalled. Jen came to the realization that for those individuals with special needs, the physical limitations are not temporary. “My participation provides funding to more than 2,000 local Special Olympics Athletes who overcome their limitations every day!”

This year, Seitz set EPIC’s team goal as raising $5,000 for the Missouri Special Olympics. The team of four surpassed that goal, raising $6,156 in approximately four weeks, leading up to the event. This earned them the distinction as the second highest fundraising team in the St. Louis region, with a contribution equal to a year’s worth of funding for 20 athletes. EPIC was proud to give back to an incredible organization.

The Special Olympics mission remains as vital today as it did when the movement was founded in 1968. Through the power of sport, the Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people. More than 15,000 athletes participate in 21 Olympic-type sports throughout the state. The athletes find joy, confidence and fulfillment on the playing field and in life. They are an inspiration to people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.

Donations are still being accepted for this year, and all funds raised in Missouri will be allocated to in-state athletes. To check out our fundraising results, or to contribute, please check out our EPIC Special Olympics page.