On April 30, 2011, I will be participating in the nation's boldest, highest-altitude, and most daring effort to put an end to sexual assault. It's called Operation Freefall: The Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault®.
I will join thousands of people at drop zones across the country who will take to the sky and jump. Their goal: to raise funds to help survivors throughout the healing process and increase awareness about sexual assault.
This year the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is hosting Operation Freefall at Skydive City and will directly benefit from this event. This means sexual violence survivors of Hillsborough County will get increased funds for healing workshops, support services, retreats and activities which support the transition from pain to empowerment. These services ARE very important to recovering from rape and were essential in my journey. Please contribute to my skydive, sponsor me and support survivors.
Rape is the most violent and traumatic crime any victim lives to remember. Every two minutes, another American is sexually assaulted. It is the most under-reported of all crimes in the United States.
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. In the past 10 years 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.
Right about now you’re probably saying, “You’re not a skydiver!” You’re right, but I don’t need to be. I’ll be making a tandem skydive. If you don’t believe I can do this, I will show you the DVD I will receive as a souvenir of my skydive. But first, I’ve agreed to raise $1,000 before April 1, 2011, and I need your help to do it.
The effects of sexual violence affect all of us. That is why I’ve committed myself to this event. I hope you’ll share in this incredible adventure by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.
Support me, support the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and empower survivors of sexual violence!
Blue Skies!