When Kellie Green, the founder of Speaking Out About Rape (SOAR), made her first skydive on January 18, 1999, she had no idea that it would become a national event. It was her way of reclaiming the day she was sexually assaulted. On January 18, 1994, Kellie’s life was devastated by rape. Five years later, she regained control. Through the healing process, Kellie’s perspective evolved from “rape victim" to "rape survivor" to "Kellie Greene, person." This is the spirit of Operation Freefall.
Devastating reality and life experience are "why" I’ve committed myself to this event; personally as well as professionally until I "Squirrely" can no longer jump out of perfectly good airplanes.
Since April of 2006, I have myself found my Operation Freefall participation to be an equally liberating experience from circumstances different than Kellie's and similar circumstances to those of Erin Merryn (Erin's Law). Excerpt from Erin Merryn's website: http://www.erinmerryn.net/erins-law.html
"When I was raped weeks before my 7th birthday and was molested from 11-13 by my older teenage cousin I DID NOT know what to do because I was never educated in school on sexual abuse so I stayed silent under their control and power. I was warned never to go look for the lost puppy when the stranger approached, I was warned never to take candy from a stranger, but it was not strangers that stole my innocence and took my childhood from me. These were monsters I knew. Monsters no one warned me about and 93% of the time when a child is sexually abused it is by someone they know and trust. Only 7% of the time the abuser is a stranger. So why I ask do we focus so much on stranger danger and not the bigger issue of sexual abuse as a whole?
My crusade now is to save the children of Illinois from the childhood I could not be saved from. It is a silent epidemic because we are not talking about it with children.
It is impossible to end this evil of child molesters. So if we cannot stop these monsters from hurting kids what can we do to prevent sexual abuse or get children to speak up instead of being locked in silence and carry it for years or even into adulthood alone?"
The statistics are shocking
http://www.darknesstolight.org/KnowAbout/statistics_2.asp
~ 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
~ 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18.
~ 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
~ Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under.
~ An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.
Consequences of child sexual abuse begin affecting children and families immediately. They also affect society in innumerable and negative ways. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/saycrle.pdf
In 2008, researchers estimated that each rape cost approximately $151,423. Sexual abuse has a negative impact on children’s educational attainment, later job performance, and earnings. Sexual violence survivors experience reduced income in adulthood as a result of victimization in adolescence, with a lifetime income loss estimated at $241,600. In 2008, violence and abuse constituted up to 37.5% of total health care costs, or up to $750 billion. http://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/CostsConsequencesSV.pdf
These effects can continue throughout the life of the survivor so the impact on society for just one survivor continues over multiple decades. Try to imagine the impact of 39 million survivors.
Sexual assault touches every life when it leads to losses of trust, decreases in self esteem, and development of shame, guilt and depression.
Sexual assault touches every life when it leads to eating disorders, substance abuse, suicide, promiscuity/prostitution, and other psychobehavioral issues.
On May 12th, 2012, I’ll again be participating in "Operation Freefall": the nation’s boldest, highest-altitude, and most daring effort to put an end to sexual assault. I’ll be joining individuals at skydive centers across the country who will take to the sky 2 miles high and jump , to raise awareness and money for sexual assault.
Operation Freefall is the only event of its kind to increase awareness of sexual violence. The event is held simultaneously across the country the last Saturday of each April (May due to the Maine climate). In the past decade Operation Freefall has raised over $1,000,000 with nearly two-thirds of that going back to local community organizations to:
~ Enhance local support and outreach services for survivors of sexual violence.
~ Provide recovery, risk-reduction, and prosecution information to tens of millions of people, including many in your local community, each year.
~ Help victims of sexual violence through the healing process.
~ Educate lawmakers, police officers, students, the public, and the media about sexual assault.
Many do not realize that crucial Rape Crisis Services are scarce throughout our country. According to a 2010 Internet survey by the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence [644 rape crisis centers from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and two territories]:
~ 56% of rape crisis centers had been forced to reduce staff in the past year.
~ 25% of rape crisis centers had a waiting list for crisis services.
~ 66% of rape crisis centers had to reduce prevention education/public awareness efforts because of funding losses.
~ 61% of rape crisis centers had three (3) or less staff.
~ 60% of rape crisis centers indicated they need at least four (4) full-time staff to meet the current demand for sexual assault services in their community.
~ 93% of rape crisis center employees were paid less than $40,000 a year.
By participating in Operation Freefall for my 7th year, I will be interviewing with anyone who will graciously grant me television or radio airtime to raise awareness within the state of Maine and raise funds for Speaking Out About Rape (SOAR). http://www.soar99.org.
My big leap out the door of a perfectly good airplane is a small but positive & personal contribution as 1 of 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Although I was unable to meet my individual fundraising goal last year, true to my word I subsidzed the remaining cost of my tandem jump in order to participate. During the 2011 event, I was one of 77 brave jumpers who in total raised over 76,000 dollars for SOAR. http://www.operationfreefall.com/2011-summary.html
Would you consider making a tax-deductible pledge to help me achieve my goal for 2012? Prior to determining if you wish to donate, you may peruse the weblinks above for additional information. You may give your tax-deductible donation at this website. [SOAR’s Tax ID number is 59-3619948]
If you would prefer to make your pledge offline you may download a pledge form from http://www.operationfreefall.com/register.html and please indicate that I am the sponsored jumper. All checks should be made directly payable to Operation Freefall.
I hope you’ll share in this incredible adventure by supporting me in my fundraising efforts. If you want to share a bit of what I'll be experiencing during the 2012 event, please check out my live video footage of Operation Freefall 2011 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWfWEf25cDM
As always, thank you kindly for your generous emotional and financial support for a cause near and dear to my heart as well as countless others.
"Flying the friendly blue skies"~ Kara aka "Squirrely"
Kara Shirley, PharmD
Registered Pharmacist and Immunizer~ Maine, New York and Pennsylvania
Independent Pharmacotherapy Consultant
Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy, Psychiatry & Geriatrics
http://www.drkarashirley.com