A local magician will dangle 50 feet in the air and attempt to break free from a straight jacket on Nov. 14 at 4:30 p.m. over Mobile Street in downtown Florence for the first time in area history.

Rob Livingston will be performing this stunt to help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The stunt is free to attend, but donations will be accepted. Outback Steakhouse has partnered with Livingston and will provide certificates for free Bloomin’ Onions for those who attend.

UNA’s combo band will also be at the event to play live music. People are encouraged to attend early to try on the regulation straight jacket Livingston will be escaping from.

“I’ve tried other straight jackets before that were easier,” said Livingston, the magician who also is earning his degrees in music education and film production at UNA. “This one is up to date. No magician has really used this type before.”

Livingston has been performing magic for three years and has made appearances at several high schools and venues around Florence. He has also met with professionals to better learn his craft.

“I have actually met ‘The Amazing Michael,’ who has set the record for escaping this type of straight jacket, and he gave me hints on how to work it out myself,” he said.

Livingston bought this type of straight jacket, called a Posey, from a medical supply warehouse seven months ago. He has only escaped six times while hanging upside down.

“I’m basically risking my life to help save people,” he said.

The biggest difference in this type of jacket from the ones Houdini used are the addition of friction belts that lock in place at any position. They are also harder to break.

Livingston has faced hardships that have encouraged him to help those in need. Both his father and stepmother passed away from lung cancer. His aunt has been diagnosed with breast cancer, but she is currently in remission.

Livingston first approached the American Cancer Society with his fundraising idea, but was rejected because they found the stunt to be too dangerous. With the help of family friend Mary Cox, who is an associate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Livingston was able to arrange the event.

UNA students are thankful for Livingston’s involvement with raising money for cancer.

“Having had many family members suffer and die from cancer, I always appreciate those who use their skills to raise money to help fight cancer,” said Josh Oglesby, a physics major at UNA.

The event will last approximately one hour and will be moved to Nov. 21 if inclement weather occurs.