On April 26, 2014, thousands of people will take a Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault®. At dozens of skydive facilities across the country, men and women of all ages will take to the sky and jump. Most for the first time ever. And it's all part of Operation Freefall®, the boldest, highest-altitude, and most daring event organized to put an end to sexual assault.
Operation Freefall started in 2001 when, on the anniversary of her rape, Speaking Out About Rape, Inc.® (SOAR®) founder, Kellie Greene, made her first skydive. When Kellie did this, she took a day of personal tragedy and turned it into a day of triumph. She reclaimed the day that had been taken from her and turned a dreaded annual memorial into a keenly anticipated celebration.
Operation Freefall is the only event of its kind to increase awareness of sexual violence. The event is held simultaneously across the country on the last Saturday of each April, and it benefits both SOAR and local community-based anti-sexual violence organizations.
In the past twelve years, Operation Freefall has raised over $1,200,000. These funds are used to:
And so by now you should be asking: "What can I do to help?" Well, first off, you don't need to be an experienced skydiver to participate. In fact, most people are first-timers, and no advance training is required. You make a tandem skydive attached to a United States Parachute Association licensed tandem master. So the next time someone asks what you do for your cause, you can proudly proclaim: "I jump from airplanes!" We even provide you with a DVD of your skydive just in case they want proof.