Operation Freefall

On April 25th, I will be jumping out of a perfectly good airplane to raise money for SOAR, a rather wonderful organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault.

Operation Freefall is a radical fundraising effort that happens simultaneously in varied cities across the US on the last Saturday of every April. In the past eight years, Operation Freefall has raised over $1,000,000 with nearly two-thirds of that going back to local community organizations.

So. Radical = win.

Why am I doing this?

Most personally, I was date raped when I was 16. As a result, I literally lost about a year out of my life. I have a remarkably good memory, and I can remember very little about my senior year of high school. Most of what I *can* remember, I wish I could forget. I turned 17, I graduated, and I pretty much ran away from home all within a week...I fled to Philadelphia, to my mother's arms. And it took a few more years before I was really able to get a grip on all the after-effects of that rape.

To quote the Operation Freefall website:
The FBI categorizes rape as the second most violent crime a person can experience, second only to murder. To put it another way, it’s the most violent and traumatic crime any victim lives to remember. Every two minutes, another American is sexually assaulted. It is the most underreported of all crimes in the United States. The effects of sexual violence affect all of us.

I am jumping out of a perfectly good plane in part because I want to do something radical for the child I once was. I am alive. I am alive despite my conviction for years that I shouldn't be, that rape doesn't happen to smart girls.

Also, I made a promise to shadesong two years ago that I would do this. :)

So.
I need to raise $1000 by April 1st.
Please consider sponsoring me by visiting this link.

And thank you so much.

You are all amazing.

I'm already at 30% of my fundraising goal. Thank you, HUGE thank you, to those who have donated, and to those who are planning to!

I stopped by Ex Landlady's on the way home tonight.

"What's new since the last time I saw you?" she asked.

"Not much." I paused, and started laughing. "Well. I've decided I'm going to jump out of a plane in April."

She stared. "I always knew you were crazy." *pause* "Ok, I thought you had a LITTLE more sense than that.."

I couldn't stop smiling. I explained about Operation Freefall and SOAR. She nodded. "Get me the paperwork, and I'll sponsor you." She shook her head. "And we'll put you on the prayer list in April..." Apparently my smile was contagious, because she started smiling, then laughed and hugged me.

Today has been absolutely terrifying. I emailed my beloved Story that telling my tale made me feel like I'd already jumped. Truth be told, I spent the day at work freezing from within. The story is from so far in my past, it happened to a version of me that is not me today, and yet it is lodged deep within me, mostly-secret. Until now.

And you have all been wonderful - your responses have been so loving. Thank you. Those words aren't enough. Thank you. And thank you for sharing your love rituals! That has been an awesome read. (More, please!)

I am going to jump out of a perfectly good airplane in April.

And I am SO. EXCITED!!!

"How I Met Your Mother" clip

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/video/video.php?cid=446409135&pid=fCe5KKzpHxaAjZxXsREQpOkM0ZMYggHx&category=recent&play=true

The whole episode is worth watching...but if you can't...watch the first 2 or 3 mins, and then goose forward to 17:12.

Watch to the end.

Pretty darn awesome.


..want!