Rachael Deja and Maria Cardenas are Florida State graduates from the Information Technology and Management of Information Systems programs and now work for General Motors in Austin, Texas.

Deja, an IT Operations Engineer and Cardenas, an IT Project Manager are close co-workers with hearts for the kids at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central & South Texas. Austin Over The Edge partners with Make-A-Wish to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions that depend on courage to overcome obstacles everyday.

Over The Edge challenges Austin residents to rappel for a cause. The first 200 individuals to raise at least $1,500 earn a spot to go “over the edge” and rappel down The W Hotel, which stands tall at 38 stories. General Motors has participated in the event for the past three years. Cardenas rappelled during the event last year and talked Deja into the experience.

Team GM raised $62,488.10 during the campaign, which ran from late April to early June. GM coordinates several fundraising events for Make-A-Wish, including a BBQ on site, Wish-Upon-A-Par golf tournament, raffles and auctions.

“GM was able to grant 6 wishes,” shared Cardenas. “One of our wish kids was related to someone at GM; it hit close to home.”

The event was held June 13-14 at The W Hotel in Austin, Texas. Teams rappelled 38 stories to the concrete below. Neither are afraid of heights and called the experience “a lot of fun” and came close to setting a record for fastest rappel. The average is around 20 minutes, while the girls finished in 11 minutes. The fastest time clocked in at 10:15.

“The scariest part is when we stood onto the ledge of The W and were told to lean back and start inching down the building,” said Cardenas. “The guy next to us slipped and fell off the ledge. He was dangling upside down and totally safe, terrifying, but safe!”

The experience was one these Florida State alums will not soon forget. Learn more about the Over The Edge campaign and check out the event video on their website.