Professors bungee-jump for Ryan's Place fundraiser

THERE HE GOES: Les Roka takes the leap. / Photo by Mikaylie Kartchner

By Mikaylie Kartchner

April 30, 2007 | PROVIDENCE -- USU professors Les Roka and Shannon Browne went bungee-jumping Saturday, while their students and other fans watched from the ground.

Roka, a public relation assistant professor who is relocating at the end of the spring semester, jumped as a sort of send off. Browne, from the sociology department, said one of his students got him into it, and he "hates" her now.

Both jumped to raise money for Ryan's Place, a community-built park, scheduled to be constructed the third week in May.

The park is being built in memory of Ryan Adams, a little boy who drowned in Lake Powell last August. It will be funded entirely by the donations and built by volunteers. Saturday's jump was part of the "Toss Your Boss" fundraiser. Organizations, companies and other volunteers sponsored jumpers by donating money to the park project. The only way the volunteers could get out of jumping was to match the sponsor's donations.

Roka and Browne each had over $200 in donations. While Roka appeared calm before take-off, Browne didn't appear as confident, shaking his head violently when asked if he was ready. Afterward, however, both said they were glad they did it.

"It was fun," Browne said.

Browne jumped attired in a bright red ninja costume, with ski goggles covering his eyes, and a pair of sliver astronaut-like pants. Roka jumped in his bright green Ryan's Place T-shirt, grinning the whole way down.

"It was wonderful," Roka said. "What better way to go then have your students telling you, 'You need to take the plunge.' That's what we are telling them when they graduate. It's the least I can do."

"To be honest, it's a fun thing."

Ryan's Place raised almost $6,000 from the sponsored jumpers. However, anyone who wasn't sponsored could buy a ticket for $10 and jump. The Celebration Centre donated the bungee-jump to the project for the day so all the money earned from it went to the project.

There were also tables in the centre selling park elements, such as fence pickets and celebration stones to those who wanted to be park of the park. Steve Adams, Ryan's grandpa and another one of the jumpers, said the celebration stones were his favorite part of the park.

Adams said the stones were extra special because they provide healing for people who have lost someone they love, especially a child or grandchild. He said it becomes "a place where fun is happening, but also where people can remember their relatives."

His wife, Marsha Adams, agreed with him.

"It's hard because when you lose a grandchild you grieve for you grandchild and for you children," she said. "I never thought there was a time when we'd be happy again."

But Marsha Adams said one of the biggest benefits of the park project was the healing it provides for her family and that is something the family wants to share with everyone.

"This park needs to be built," she said. "We're going to do it and it's going to be awesome."

The celebration stones are $100. Marsha Adams said there special funds have been set aside to assist those who can't afford the stones, but would like one. She said several mortuaries in the area have offered to help pay for stones for family who have lost children with in the last two years.

The next fundraiser for the park with be May 7. It's the party in the park with the Pauni family. Alicia Adams said the Pauni family, recent recipients of Extreme Home Makeover were cooking diner and providing some entertainment for the community. Tickets for the diner are $10 for adults and $7 for children, with kids 4-years-old and under eating for free.

For more information visit: www.ryansplacepark.com.

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