Daredevils willing to raise at least $1,000 will get the chance to rappel down the side of Spartanburg's Denny's headquarters building on Oct. 30, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as the Over the Edge Upstate fundraiser returns to the corner of East Main Street. The event benefits the Cancer Association of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties, and organizers say they're still looking for additional participants willing to take the plunge for a good cause.
According to WSPA 7News, the fundraiser will take place at the Denny's headquarters building at 203 E. Main St., with participants required to raise a minimum of $1,000 to earn their spot on the rappel line. Among those expected to join is Jamarcus Gaston, who the station reports will be joining other daredevils raising money for the Cancer Association of Spartanburg.
A Familiar Drop for a Local Cause
This isn't the first time Spartanburg has watched people dangle from the Denny's tower for charity. A previous Over the Edge event sent 54 people rappelling off the 16-story building, raising $96,000 for the Cancer Association, according to The Post and Courier. That descent started roughly 190 feet above the ground, giving participants — and the crowds watching below — a dramatic view of downtown Spartanburg.
The Cancer Association has leaned on rappelling events for years to bring in donations. Years earlier, the organization teamed up with AC Hotel Spartanburg, OTO Development and Rick Erwin Dining Group for a similar event, according to GoUpstate, which had participants rappelling from the 10th-floor terrace of Rick Erwin's Level 10 restaurant down to a patio at 225 W. Main St. That earlier fundraiser set a goal of raising more than $150,000 and offered spots to the first 100 registrants who hit the $1,000 fundraising mark, with no prior rappelling experience required — organizers provided instructional training before anyone went over the edge.
Where the Money Goes
The Cancer Association of Spartanburg & Cherokee Counties describes itself as a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has served people affected by cancer since 1967. The organization says it provides free resources and support to patients and families, including nutritional supplements, wigs, medical-equipment loans, transportation gas cards, counseling and food assistance.
The nonprofit also emphasizes that its fundraising stays close to home, stating that every dollar it raises stays in Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties to fund those essential services. For a region where Over the Edge has already proven it can pull in tens of thousands of dollars in a single day, the Oct. 30 event gives local residents another chance to watch their neighbors take a literal leap of faith for a cause that touches many families across the Upstate.
