BALTIMORE – The National Kidney Foundation of Maryland (NKF-MD) will take fundraising to new heights with its second annual Rappel for Kidney Health signature event occurring throughout the day, Saturday, June 18, at the Canton Crossing Tower (1501 S. Clinton St.) in Downtown Baltimore’s Canton community.

“Rappel for Kidney Health will give people the chance to make an impact on kidney disease in an extraordinary way,” said Kelly Meltzer, director of special events for the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland. “We are very excited to bring the event to this beautiful, waterfront location.”

People of all ages are invited to rappel down the 17-story building. Participants include people with connections to kidney disease, transplant donors/recipients and adventure seekers, including an 87-year-old pancreatic cancer survivor who is flying in from California. She will be the oldest person ever to participate in a rappelling event organized by Over the Edge, North America’s only company with the proven experience, safety record and insurance to provide rappelling services to the non-profit sector.

Each participant will pledge $1,000, receive a fundraising Web page, receive a rappelling time slot, undergo a training session the day of the event and be photographed while in action.

During a preview rappel June 17, selected VIPs will be the first to join the adventure. To date, the participant list includes: Kimmie Meissner (2006 Olympian and World Champion Figure Skater), Bennie Thompson (former NFL player), Stan Charles (host of daily radio show for FOX Sports 1370 and “Pressbox Live” on ABC2, WMAR-TV,  and founder/publisher of Pressbox), Cheryl Conner (Nightside reporter, ABC2, WMAR-TV), Steve Davis (host of 105.7 the Fan’s “Norris and Davis Show”) and JoJo Girard (host of Mix 106.5 FM’s Jojo, Reagan and the Mix Morning Show).

Honorary event co-chairs are Matthew Cooper, MD (University of Maryland Medical Center transplant surgeon and associate professor of surgery, and director of both kidney transplantation and clinical research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Division of Transplantation) and Dr. Niraj Desai, MD (assistant professor of surgery and director of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital). Corporate chair is Greg Devou (executive vice president/chief marketing officer of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield) and event chair is Mark Salvo (managing partner of Salvo Auto Parts and a two-time transplant recipient). All four chairs will rappel.

Rappel for Kidney Health will be the exclusive rappel event occurring annually in the Baltimore metropolitan area through 2013. NKF-MD hopes to surpass the levels from last year’s inaugural Rappel for Kidney Health from the Legg Mason Tower, which drew 70 participants and raised $118,000.

Event proceeds will help NKF-MD to expand its patient services, education and research efforts. To register for Rappel for Kidney Health or receive information about event sponsorship, visit www.kidneymd.org or call 410.494.8545.

Serving central and western Maryland, the Delmarva Peninsula and portions of West Virginia, NKF-MD is the area’s only voluntary health agency dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of kidney and urinary tract diseases. For more information, visit www.kidneymd.org.