POWERGRAMS

POWER OF GOOD Tied to a Cause Anyone wanting to claim Gordon Martin is "over the top" may finally have the evidence to present their case. On Nov. 22, Alabama Power's chief legal eagle took an elevator to the top of One Federal Place in Birmingham, was hooked to a rope and went over the side of the 11-story building, landing on the parking deck about 100 feet below a couple of minutes later. Martin was willing to do something outrageous to help a good friend's cause: Laps for CF. The organization sent supporters like Martin rappelling to boost cystic fibrosis treatment, research, care and patients' improved quality of life. Most who complete the once-in-a-lifetime plunge commit to raise a minimum of $1,000. Alabama Power's senior vice president and general counsel stepped over the ledge on a cool afternoon in the midst of a light drizzle and brisk winds as the master of ceremonies announced that the father of five said beforehand, "If this doesn't work out, please take care of them." Despite virtually no experience in rappelling, Martin traversed the marble building about as fast as any of the nearly 50 men and women who went over the edge during two days that raised more than $80,000. "That's fun," Martin said as his shoes touched the concrete deck. "The hardest part really was when I was getting on the roof edge, but I just kept thinking 'Target Zero.'" Martin said the Over the Edge company took every safety measure imaginable to make the descent "about as foolproof as you can get." He was fitted with professional mountain climbing equipment including a harness, helmet and gloves before practicing on the roof. A mechanical handbrake limited the speed of the descent, while a secondary line would have caught Martin had the main line or equipment failed. Laps for CF Foundation Executive Over the Edge employees made sure Martin was safe. 6 Photos by Bill Snow Participants go Over the Edge to fund CF research Martin steps off 11-story building with Alabama Power in background. Director Susan Mayer Bruchis said funds raised during the annual event stay in Birmingham, with more than $1 million benefiting the Children's of Alabama CF Care Center in the past decade. Laps for CF originated when 9-year-old Emily Schreiber was diagnosed with CF and decided to raise funds to combat the disease. Her target was $3,000 but within six weeks she'd raised $60,000. Emily is now a junior at Furman University, studying abroad. Martin and her father, Allen, are longtime friends. "Cystic fibrosis is an incredibly expensive disease to live with and until there is a cure, a patient has to accept it's a part of every day of their life," Bruchis said. Children with CF may take 120 or more pills weekly and undergo a rigorous 45-minute treatment twice or more daily to clear mucus from their lungs and try to prevent infection, Bruchis said. In the past, they rarely lived to attend elementary school, but because of research and advanced treatment the average life expectancy is now 37. To learn more about CF or the Laps for CF Foundation, go to lapsforCF.org. By Chuck Chandler

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