Over the Edge is a fun and unique opportunity for individuals and organizations to raise money and support Cedar Valley United Way by rappelling off of the historic TechWorks building. All funds raised from the event will go toward Cedar Valley United Way's strategic investments and initiatives, which supports local programs and organizations in our community impacting health, education and financial stability and improving lives.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
RAISE:
Raise a minimum of $1,000 for Cedar Valley
United Way by event day (September 26, 2025).
RAPPEL:
Join us at the historic TechWorks building
(360 Westfield Avenue, Waterloo) on Friday, September 26 and rappel!
(You will schedule your time slot in advance.)
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
View our sponsor package here.
QUESTIONS?
LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER?
We have a variety of positions available including: registration, ropes volunteers, participant runners, gear runners, roof radio, emcee, photographer and more!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No, but there is a weight restriction (100 lbs. minimum and 300 lbs. maximum). Minors must have their waivers signed by a consenting parent or guardian.
Participants must be between 100 and 300 pounds to safely fit into the harness equipment.
Absolutely! Every Over the Edge event around the world is set up as an industrial worksite and is compliant with all federal and state OSHA Fall Protection Standards and OSHA federal and state laws. Their policies and procedures adhere to the best practices identified by IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) Counsel.
All members of the Over the Edge technical team are IRATA and SPRAT certified industrial rope access technicians. We also hope to rely on our first responders to assist with the ropes, who all have extensive training in areas like rope rescue and / or are instructors in rope rescue or climbing.
The Over the Edge technical team regularly orders new ropes. They are inspected by qualified technical staff at the start, middle and end of each event. During the event, safety checks are performed for each person before they rappel and every 2 and 1/2 hours, their team inspects all of the rigging.
To learn more about Over the Edge's safety policy, click here.
Yes! You will have the opportunity to practice before your descent. This training and practice session will help you get used to the harness and rappel device and will offer good technique for descending the building.
Training begins in the Staging Area, where participants get into their gear and are provided the equipment needed to rappel. We adjust harnesses and other equipment to fit each individual and teach the participants about the correct way to wear their gear. In the Training Area, we train participants to use the descender and back-up device, the two pieces of equipment used during their rappel. The descender we use is a 'Petzl I'D'. We use a 'Petzl ASAP' as our back up device. We discuss how to properly operate the I'D as well as what causes the back-up device to engage and how to correctly release the ASAP. After demonstration by an OTE technician, participants have the opportunity to simulate the actual rappel before going Over The Edge.
Yes. In order to go Over the Edge, you must meet your $1,000 minimum fundraising goal. This must be raised by event day. Your $50 registration fee DOES count towards your goal.
We will send all participants an email prior to event day to coordinate their scheduled start time. Bring your family, friends and coworkers to watch, take pictures and cheer you on from the ground!
- You will be walking down the side of a building, so wear good shoes. Well-fitting sneakers, light hiking boots, or other soft soled shoes are best. No sandals, slip-ons, slippers, flip flops, heels, or steel toed boots allowed.
- Comfortable long pants (tights, athletics pants) or shorts are recommended. Long or short sleeve t-shirts are best. The harness goes around your legs, waist, and shoulders, so it is best to avoid anything bulky. Shirts should be comfortable, without draw cords. Hair should be tied back.
- You will be required to leave droppable items like keys and cell phones, or jewelry that can get caught on things, with a staff member on-site. You will be given a pair of leather gloves and a helmet when you arrive.
- Many people choose to wear costumes for their rappel. All costumes need to meet the same standards as listed above. Capes must be approved by the Site Safety Supervisor for the main rappel. If you have a question about what alterations your costume will need, please email pictures of your costume prior to the event so our staff can check it out!
Bring all of your family, friends or coworkers! While they will not be allowed on the roof, we will have a viewing area that gives them the opportunity to safely see your rappel. We will also have food trucks there with food to purchase if you wish!
Yes, mascots are definitely allowed to participate and costumes are encouraged!
Mascots:
Equipment:
Harnesses generally fit with the harness outside costume:
• We use a larger size harness to accommodate padding
• Some parts may still fit over harness, like a jersey
• May have to remove ‘support’ rings from larger mascots however
• Or with the harness inside the costume
• Only if devices can pass through and not be at risk of jamming on loose fabric, fur, etc.
• We do everything we can to fit the helmet inside the costume. Your costume may have an integrated helmet, and our tech on site will inspect and determine its suitability. The head will be secured with a dedicated (and hidden) tether to the harness as well
Special Considerations:
We understand that having a private area to get into character is important! We’ll do some planning ahead of time. As you may wish to not speak while in character, we respect this and can work with you: in safety-critical situations we may ask for verbal confirmation of certain requests. We can work with almost any costume to some degree but please send a picture of the mascot to the Site Safety Supervisor before the 10-day mark. All costumes will need to meet the same standards. Capes will have to be approved by the Site Safety Supervisor for the main rappel. Having extra safety pins can help with these. If you have a question about what alterations your costume will need, please email pictures of your costume prior to the event so our staff can check it out!
All these considerations mean that the timing for the rappel is important to work it into media or event day. On media day, please show up at your designated registration time. We’ll get you suited up and to the roof while taking the time to get as much media coverage as we can
On event day, please arrive a half hour before the scheduled registration time and we’ll have 2 rappel spots designated to the mascot. If time permits, we may let the performer practice the training rappel out of character and again in character to increase comfort.
The Site Safety Supervisor at the event always has final say on whether a costume meets safety requirements for the event, regardless of any prior approval.
Costumes:
We encourage costumes to make the day fun! Costumes just have to be approved by the Site Safety Supervisor prior to the event to make sure we adhere to safety requirements. Some examples of costumes from other events include: Wizard of Oz, sports teams, etc.
Of course! Get your office together to fundraise and send one of your staff members Over the Edge! Have a potluck, bags tournament or other fun office competition to raise money, sign up and rappel!
