A Chester County middle school principal braves the elements on a bet to spend the night on the roof of the school and it's all for a good cause.
Jon Ross, principle of Lionville Middle School climbed to the roof at dismissal on Thursday and planned to stay there until students arrived at school Friday around 7:30 a.m.
If students and staff raised $7,500 for Alex's Lemonade as part of their annual Turkey Trot fundraiser in November, Mr. Ross would spend the night on the roof.
"They were very very motivated to see me up on the roof," Mr. Ross told NBC10. "Some of them didn't think I was actually going to do it. I had a lot of kids asking me if it was for real and I told them it was for real."
They surpassed the goal, raising more than $7,600.
Each year, students come up with different ideas to wager for the fundraiser. In the past, an assistant principle was duct taped to the wall and another year, Mr. Ross shaved his head.
Temperatures on Thursday night into Friday dropped into the 20s, by Mr. Ross said he would have a tent and sleeping bag to stay warm, but promised he wouldn't have a portable heater.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
"I going to be out in the elements, not cheating, nothing extra out there to stay warm other than just clothes and a sleeping bag," Mr. Ross said.
A live stream of his time on the roof was set up on the school's YouTube channel where Ross would answer messages sent to him from supporters.
He made it through the night and says his only regret was missing his wife's birthday Friday morning.
