Blass goes ‘over the edge’ for Boy Scouts

NORTH CANAAN — Putting in long hours of work on fundraisers is now second nature to Nikki Blass. She has organized all sorts of them through the local PTO and Cub Scout Pack 22, where she is currently Cubmaster.But nothing compares to what she did for the Over the Edge event to benefit scouts in the Connecticut Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America.Blass took a literal leap of faith when she stepped backward off a 17-story building at the Connecticut River Plaza in Hartford on Sept. 9. She was among 72 people who rappelled down the side of the cement-and-glass building. She raised the blood pressure of her watching husband and two sons. She also raised nearly $1,200.“Was I scared? Yes, the initial ‘over the edge’ is the scary part, taking that step over. Backward. Would I do it again? YOU BET!!!” Blass wrote in an email. “I would do anything that supported the well-being or quality of life for any child. I have been involved in scouts since Mitchell was in first grade (2003) and haven’t stopped.”Her son, Noah, joined Cub Scouts the following day.Three Cub Scouts were given special recognition by Blass, who needed to raise at least $1,000 to participate. Michael Hanlon, Sam Taylor and Christopher Duntz spent last summer’s Railroad Days collecting donations and wearing T-shirts with sayings such as “Help toss the boss” and “Help throw over our master.”Support came, as well, from Blass’ colleagues at The Hotchkiss School, who added moral support in the form of notes and emails advising her to land on her feet and to get good life insurance.