Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California's La Jolla Office Agents Leap Down Tall Building for Brain Cancer Research

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1448322377LA JOLLA, CA - We hear a lot about agents “going the extra mile” to help those in need in their communities. But several agents from our La Jolla offices, their staff, family, and friends literally went “Over the Edge” Oct. 17 to raise more than $30,000 for brain cancer research.

They did it by rappelling down the side of the tallest building on San Diego’s waterfront, the 40-story, 497-foot-high Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel. Agent Karen Hickman spearheaded the effort, which required each participant to raise at least $1,500 for the rare privilege of descending via OHSA-compliant harnesses, ropes, and pulleys.

Karen said she was intrigued when she first heard about the annual event about a year ago. She contacted friends and clients, and the idea of dropping for a great cause caught on. They eventually formed the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Rappel Team, and started emailing everyone they knew for donations big and small.

community support

La Jolla office participants in the “Over the Edge” rappel event Oct. 17 from left: James Hankins, brother of agent Karen Hickman; Tonja Meyer, a BHHS client; Mike Lawson, husband of agent Doris Dirks; Karen Hickman; agent Mark Stuart; Nicole Minabe, Karen’s personal office manager; Cindie Leonard, also a BHHS client; and agent Rosamaria Acuña.

Every dollar counts

Their hard work paid off. Within about eight weeks, they raised $30,000-plus for beneficiary Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure and its research program in San Diego. That total made them No. 1 among the 18 teams that rappelled. A total of 76 people descended throughout the day, raising nearly $165,000 for research.

Karen got in some practice at a rock climbing wall. Others on the team had their own training routines, ranging from working out at the gym to doing nothing at all.

La Jolla real estate agents

Were they scared when the big day came?

“The thought of doing it was intimidating at first, but once you get up there and understand the purpose of why we’re doing it, it was totally fearless,” said La Jolla agent Rosamaria Acuña, who has raised funds for children’s cancer research the past 10 years. “It was pretty much a cakewalk compared to when you think about the cancer patients, their treatment, and their day-in day-out lives.”

Congratulations to everyone who took the plunge so the team could shoot to the top in total funds raised!