What goes up, must come down. And today — Chris Van Vliet learned that the hard way. He went up on top of a popular hotel in Downtown Miami and then jumped off — all for a great cause. And hey, look! He survived.
Look high, up in the sky in Downtown Miami … it’s not a bird or a plane. This is Over The Edge — a fundraiser for the Miami Children’s Initiative.
Cecilia Gutierrez, Miami Children’s Initiative: “We are intentionally investing in the children of this community because we believe in their brilliance and their greatness and we believe they can all break a cycle of poverty by staying in school.”
This is the fourth year for daredevils to rappel down the side of the JW Marriott Marquis … including bride to be Suneliz Santana who won the Miami Children’s Initiative’s “Wed over the Edge” contest — an all expense paid wedding fit for pair of daredevils.
Suneliz Santana: “It’s going to be interesting.”
With their four kids by their side, she and fiancé Vincent Scott are getting married on top of the hotel — and then they’re rappelling down the side.
Suneliz Santana: “It’s going to be a wedding we’ll never forget. We’ll be talking about it for years.”
And this is the view they’ll be talking about.
Chris Van Vliet: “You see that? That’s a long way down.”
Nineteen stories … 200 feet straight down to be exact and like Suneliz, I’m a daredevil too. But before we can go down, we have to gear up.
Volunteer: “So be careful with this, it’s in a very vulnerable position.”
Chris Van Vliet: “Haha. Oh I see.”
And yes, the harness is just as uncomfortable as it looks. One final check…
Volunteer: “We’re good, we’re good. We’re good.”
Chris Van Vliet: “We’re good.”
Now we’re ready for training.
So easy that it’s time to head outside to do the real thing.
Instructor: “Start walking toward the edge.”
Chris Van Vliet: “Wow. Well there’s only one way down from here I guess. And it’s straight down.”
And the rush comes to an end with both feet back on the ground.
Chris Van Vliet: “Back on solid ground, but I feel like I can do anything now!”
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.