News

Katz and dog rappel down 80-foot tower to help raise money for British charity

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Seeing Sparky the Fire Dog rappelling down an 80-foot tower isn't something you see every day - especially in the local community.

But that's exactly what happened March 16 at Cambridge Fire Station, when Staff Sgt. Sean Katz, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department, decided he wanted to raise money for two British charities, one of which is the U.K.'s leading children's cancer charity.

The charity provides individual support to children and young people with cancer and leukemia, and their families. It currently supports 48 families across Cambridgeshire. The second charity Sergeant Katz was helping raise money for supports community projects and other local charities.

The Old Bridge, N.J., native first read about the event in an e-mail sent out by Sub-Officer Robbie Campbell, 100th CES Fire Department. He immediately volunteered, and was put in touch with a representative from the children's cancer charity.

The event was open to the general public and about 20 people, including "Sparky" took up the hair-raising challenge of coming down the side of an 80-foot tower using only a rope and harness. Sergeant Katz was the only American firefighter who participated, though he took along a couple of other RAF Mildenhall firefighters to cheer him on.

While the thought of rappelling (known as "abseiling" in the United Kingdom) may be a little scary for many people, the Team Mildenhall firefighter is an old hand at it. He's rappelled at least 20 times before as part of his job, and many of those times included having rescue equipment attached to him.

Rappelling while dressing as Sparky was a first for him, but he said he didn't find it any more difficult than when he's abseiled before.

"It wasn't any more difficult to get the harness on, as I had someone to help me, but it was more interesting as my field of vision was greatly reduced."

Sergeant Katz said he wanted to take part in the event to raise money for the charities because he personally believes it is a very good cause.

Before anyone could take part, they had to raise a minimum of 100 pounds for the charity. With the help of his coworkers, both British and American, and squadron commander, Sergeant Katz raised 211.65 pounds.