Operation Freefall: The Two Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault

From SOAR (Speaking Out About Rape):

On April 24, 2010, 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 nine years, Operation Freefall has raised over $1,000,000 with nearly two-thirds of that going back to local communities. These funds are used to:

•Increase 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.

•Enhance SOAR’s programs to help victims of sexual violence throughout the healing process.

•Educate lawmakers, police officers, students, the public, and the media about sexual violence.

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.

Come join the fun and see what the excitement is all about. After all, we can’t stamp out sexual violence without YOU.