PLEASE help my friend become a skydiver

[DZBumsFriend 0]

There is no way to explain how important this is in a forum, but I have a lifelong friend who is disabled but cleared for taking her AFF course.

I don't know much about skydiving myself, but she eats, sleeps and breathes it. But on a very small limited income, it's nearly impossible for her to take her lessons.

She had two tandem jumps that friends got for her. Addicted to skydiving on the very first one.

She's spent the past 14 years taking care of sick or dying family members and not taking the time to do anything for herself. But when she jumped, she said it was the first time she felt alive in years.

If I had the money, I would pay the whole thing, but I just don't. She's given up everything to help others and it's really time that she had a little joy in her life.

You can read about her here and hopefully make a donation to help her out. As it is, it would take her two years to get her A license, but like I said, she's 60 and I would love to see her get it this year.

I know that I'm new to this site, but she follows it like it's a bible. And if I am posting in the wrong place, please tell me. I don't want to break any rules here. I just want to help.

No donation is too small. Get enough people to donate even $1 and she can realize her dream. So if anyone out there remembers how badly they wanted to jump, please donate and share this link.

Thank you in advance,

Kat (DZBumsFriend)

https://fundanything.com/en/campaigns/help-my-friend-s-dream-come-true

[quade 4]

From the linked fund raising site;

Quote

After looking for part-time (due to injuries, she cannot work full time) work over the past two years, and realizing that at 60, she needs to get on with a AFF (accelerated free fall) lessons to obtain an "A" license so her dream can be more affordable, and she can jump alone. She did find a part time job, but will not see the $ 250.00 a month anytime soon. Currently on disability for the head injuries, as well as Caretaker for her brother, the small amount of money she receives is pretty much survival .. rent, food, gas, electricity, phone - the basics of living and sometimes there is far more month left at the end of the money. She would sell everything she had for this opportunity, but that has already happened to help them live and not be homeless eating in soup kitchens. (yeah .. that happened, too).

Obviously, people can take from that whatever they will.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[LuckyMcSwervy 0]

Glad you pointed it out. I was going to and didn't want to get slammed.

Always be kinder than you feel.

[DZBumsFriend 0]

Not sure what you mean by that.

[wmw999 2,588]

What they mean is that the requirements to make a tandem jump, and those to make an AFF jump (and go on to get your license) are quite different.

If she is too disabled from a head injury to work, there is a chance that she would not be able to skydive alone. Really; she should talk to someone at the dropzone and be evaluated for that.

Also, well, skydiving is very expensive on an ongoing basis. If she gets her license, and even has some (probably old) gear donated, she still has to pay $25 a pop (at least) to make subsequent jumps. It might be that making a solo jump or two a month will keep her quite happy. But that's expensive.

It might be that making periodic tandems, where she's in charge of pulling and steering (as an experienced tandem student, that's entirely possible), is the best option for her. It might be that spending her recharge-herself time at the dropzone will both get her involved with the people there (which can do nothing but help her dream come true, as the people in charge of judging her aptitude will be the ones she's talking to regularly), and give her some way of helping to earn some of her jumps.

It might also be that the wind tunnel is a good option.

Either way, it's not that anyone is trying to dash her hopes; it's just that if the dropzone won't clear her to jump solo because of physical issues, then it's a moot point. She really needs to start there. Skydiving has inherent risks; some of them involve the ability to react quickly and accurately, or physical ability. Starting when your body is already compromised is more difficult. Not necessarily impossible, but harder. It's not fair, but neither was getting in the motorcycle wreck in the first place, or being the caretaker -- it's just how life is.

Either way, good luck, and I really hope that you can help her to find a path that works for her, and that she can keep doing, rather than do once, and then give up on as unrealistic.

Edit to add: Folks, from the video it looks like she's been doing at least some of this advance work.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[DZBumsFriend 0]

Thank you for clearing that up.

The head injury affect past memory. She can no longer play piano, guitar and cello. She couldn't remember how to do her work anymore and had to re-learn a lot of things.

Her drop zone is very familiar with her and both they and her doctor have cleared her to take the lessons.

It took her two years to find a job because nobody even wanted to interview her because she had a HUGE gap in her employment history. To them she just seemed like someone who didn't want to work, but that was not the case at all.

She will be getting the $250/mo from the part time job she got. But she recently had to have another biopsy for cancer which was thankfully benign. But her first couple of checks will go to pay off the hospital.

She thought if she could get her license, she could afford the $26 jumps.

She got some tunnel time from friends and has been 3 times. 26 minutes total. This is what she posted after the last tunnel session: "An amazing moment in the tunnel last night. I have a huge smile on my face and I'm saying "Hey!" I looked and my friends were clapping. It was one of those moments when the "light comes on". I learned new turns, how to go up and down and backwards and forward all in the same night. Woo Hoo, this is getting good. Doesn't come close to skydiving, but I'd like to be prepared if I do get to take my AFF"

Like I said, I'm just trying to help her out.

[quade 4]

What drop zone / tunnel / city is this?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[DZBumsFriend 0]

Quade,

I'm not sure the name but she lives in Longmont, CO I think she said the tunnel is south of Denver. About 50 miles from her. But there are two skydiving schools close to her.

[oldwomanc6 60]

So, you're asking for money?

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[DZBumsFriend 0]

Yes Lisa. I'm trying to help her raise the funds to take her AFF classes.

I sent her a message earlier trying to clear up why she can't work full time. She said "It's too costly to have someone take care of my brother full time. His insurance will only pay for the times when I have to go grocery shopping and run errands and of course my trips to the airport" Her new job is delivering magazines to stores that carry it. She takes her brother to work with her.

It was MY mistake on the funding page that the head injury was the main reason she can't. That was MY bad and I corrected it.

[skymama 37]

So, let's say you raise enough for AFF. Is there going to be another fundraiser for her rig, helmet, altimeter, jumpsuit, AAD and reserve repacks? Skydiving IS a very expensive sport. Sadly, just because the want is there, it doesn't mean everyone can do it.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[DZBumsFriend 0]

No there won't be. Alot of that has already been donated now.

[airtwardo 7]

skymama

So, let's say you raise enough for AFF. Is there going to be another fundraiser for her rig, helmet, altimeter, jumpsuit, AAD and reserve repacks? Skydiving IS a very expensive sport. Sadly, just because the want is there, it doesn't mean everyone can do it.

FWIW ~ Spoke with a buddy out that way last night...legit deal, sounds like a kindred soul that unfortunately 'caught the bug' a bit late in life & is struggling to make it happen.

I was told - this is a person that has a real bad habit of putting others needs ahead of her 'wants' ...maybe a more selfish person would be jumping by now.

I spent 15 bucks getting heartburn at jackinthebox last night, got me thinkin' what the heck - for the price of a jump, help somebody that in the grand scheme has 'earned it'...I could use the positive karma & though I don't know her personally, at least she never gave me food poisoning like that Jack asshole did with a bag of greasy gut-bombs last night!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[DZBumsFriend 0]

Thank you. I'm grateful you found someone who knows her or at least knows of her.

What timing. I had just asked her if she wanted me to post some folks from Mile-Hi Skydiving that know her and can vouch for how hard she's been working to make this happen.

She said she would be willing but would want to get their permission before posting any of their contact information. Yes, she is the real deal and generous to a fault.

Although, the goal is to send her to Skydive Spaceland south of Houston because it is quite a bit cheaper to do it there. I'm retired with Continental/United and have given her flight privileges to get her there and back. A nurse has volunteered to stay with her brother while she is down here.