When Greg Butler steps Over The Edge of One City Plaza at this year’s Over The Edge event, he won’t just be making one descent. He’ll rappel the building an incredible 10 times, setting an Over The Edge record for both the most rappels and the greatest distance rappelled by a single participant in a single day. By the time he reaches the ground for the final time, Greg will have descended a distance equal to the height of the world’s tallest building.
For many people, hanging hundreds of feet above downtown Raleigh would be terrifying. Greg understands that feeling. Last year, when he went Over The Edge for the first time, he was afraid.
But he went anyway.
“You might be afraid when you get to the top of that building,” Greg said. “But bravery isn’t about not being afraid. Bravery is about choosing to do it anyway.”
It’s a lesson Greg learned long before he ever went Over The Edge. When people ask whether rappelling down a skyscraper is the bravest thing he’s ever done, he has a simple answer:
“I’ve been braver than that.”
He points to the courage it took to attend classes, walk into job interviews, move to North Carolina in search of better opportunities and persevere through a period of homelessness.
Through those challenges, Special Olympics North Carolina became something more than a sports organization. It became a community.
“I spend a lot of time alone,” Greg said. “But when I’m at SONC events, I’m never alone. SONC is my home.”
That sense of belonging is why Greg is taking on this record-breaking challenge. His journey is a reminder that bravery isn’t always found on the side of a skyscraper. Often, it appears in the quiet moments when people choose hope, perseverance and growth despite uncertainty.
Greg’s historic day would not be possible without the support of ResCare, whose generous $10,000 donation covered his fundraising commitment and helped make the challenge possible.
Over The Edge is more than a fundraiser. It’s an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, experience Raleigh from a new perspective and make a direct impact on the nearly 53,000 athletes and Unified partners across the state.
Whether you’re conquering a fear of heights or simply looking for a memorable way to give back, every participant helps create more opportunities for athletes like Greg to train, compete, build friendships and find a place to belong.
Join Greg at Over The Edge on Sept. 26 at One City Plaza in downtown Raleigh. Register today and take your own leap of courage at https://sonc.net/support/help-to-fundraise/over-the-edge/.
