Community Corner
San Juan Grandma Plays Daredeveil for Autism Research
As of Friday morning, Joan Priestly had raised $3,200 in honor of her grandson.
Joan Priestly is an adventurous grandma, a veteran zip-liner in Costa Rica and Belize, as well as an occasional horseback rider.
But she's never dangled from the side of a building before.
"My friends think I'm crazy, my husband thinks I'm nuts, my kids say, 'Well, that's mom,'" Priestly said.
On Saturday, the 63-year-old daredevil plans to rappel down the side of an 11-story building as part of an Autism Speaks charity event. So far, she's raised $3,200 for autism research in connection with the adventure.
Priestly said she's heading to the Los Angeles site of the event -- near the airport -- with about 16 friends and family members who will cheer her on as she descends the industrial building's facade.
Priestly's grandson Liam Phillips, 12, of Costa Mesa is her inspiration for the stunt. Since he was diagnosed with autism at age 2, she has been involved in all sorts of autism charity events, research fundraising and political activism, she said.
For more information on the Autism Speaks charity or to donate on behalf of Priestly, visit her fundraising website.
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