Getting the ‘Edge’ on with United Way of Greater Nashua

For the third time, I’m going “Over the Edge.” Wasn’t rappelling down the side of the 24-story Brady Sullivan Plaza twice enough?

Nope.

Do I really need another orange T-shirt screaming my accomplishment?

Yes, I do.

Mike Cote makes his way down the side of the Brady Sullivan Plaza in June 2025 during United Way of Greater Nashua’s “Over the Edge” fundraiser. (Courtesy)

The United Way of Greater Nashua organizes the June 22-23 event to raise money for local nonprofits. This year, more than 20 New Hampshire organizations are fielding teams, including Dismas Home, the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Nashua, Dover Children’s Home, Families in Transition, Greater Nashua Mental Health, Nashua Senior Activity Center and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashua Manchester.

More than 100 people are going over the edge. Each one must raise a minimum of $1,000 to earn the right to put on a harness and a helmet and descend the south side of the 300-story Manchester tower. For $500 more, they get to wear a GoPro camera to record their adrenalin-pumped journey.

As of this writing, edgers have raised nearly $151,000 toward the $175,000 goal. As they race toward their deadline to qualify, some are finding for the first time how challenging fundraising can be as they call on their friends, colleagues and new connections in their communities to support them. It’s all about conquering your fears for a great cause.

Volunteers and sponsors, including staffers of building owner Brady Sullivan Properties, rappel on June 22. The rest go over the edge on June 23. (I’m scheduled for the first wave June 23 at 7:30 a.m. You can text edge202672 to 71777 to support my campaign.)

Dozens of volunteers work the event, including the welcoming party who wait for the edgers as they touch the ground and help them unshackle their harness so it can be sent back to the top for another participant.

The first time I participated, in 2022, I got stuck at the top for a few minutes as a I fumbled with my “descender.” The beginning of my souvenir video consists of the event pros explaining to me how to release some rope from the device as I was suspended in mid-air (but safely secured by two sets of rope.)

Once I let out that first stretch of rope, I scaled the building in less than five minutes, not because I was so adept at rappelling but because I was eager to touch ground again, as the crowd down below, including family and friends, cheered me on.

Last year, I remembered what I learned and had my Batman mojo working right away. I still wanted to get down as soon as possible, thanks to 90-degree heat that had me parched almost as soon as I left the roof. Along the way, I tried to take in the stunning views of the city’s West Side to my left, including the steeple of Ste. Marie Church.

I was inspired to rappel the first time by Randy Pierce, president and CEO of Future in Sight, a nonprofit that provides services and training for the blind. I was writing an article for the New Hampshire Union Leader to help promote “Over the Edge,” and Pierce was among the people I interviewed who had previously participated.

Pierce, who began losing his sight more than 30 years ago and is now completely blind, had rappelled Brady Sullivan Plaza three times and was about to do it again. What he told me about the experience has stayed with me ever since. Not only did it compel me to join “Over the Edge” that year, but I’ve repeated it many times to colleagues whenever we’re talking about confronting our fears and embracing new experiences.

“The most dangerous thing most of us do every day is get into a car. And we manipulate that by getting in a car with a good driver,” Pierce said.

Too often, people don’t think about the risk of not doing something, he told me.

“If I don’t do this, what might happen? We miss an opportunity for growth and development and understanding of ourselves in ways that very few things can give us.”

Thanks for giving me the Edge, Randy.

Here’s Mike Cote’s “Over the Edge” fundraising page. Find more information about the event here.