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| This is what Edenwill look like when she goes through with her jump for the fight against sexual assault |
LEWISBURG — Eden Dion will go to great lengths to raise money for a cause she believes in.
In fact, she will be skydiving from two miles up on April 29.
She will be part of Operation Freefall: The Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault.
The AmeriCorps volunteer will skydive from the Chambersburg Sky Diving Center.
"I think it will be exciting. There will be a videotape of the jump. That will be interesting to watch," the Lewisburg resident said.
She will part of a national event that day. This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
This is the first time she will have jumped from a plane.
"It will be a tandem jump. I will be strapped to a licensed skydiving instructor who will pull the cord," the 23-year-old said.
It is also the first time Susquehanna Valley Women in Transition is participating in the event.
She expects at least 35 jumpers at Chambersburg, which will be the site for Pennsylvania participants. Some Bucknell University students are expected to jump, too.
"I will go in the morning for a training workshop and later in the afternoon go up," she said.
Thousands of skydivers will participate at centers across the country to raise awareness and money for services against sexual assault.
Ms. Dion will be raising funds for Speaking Out About Rape and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.
Megan Mulligan, legal advocate at Susquehanna Valley Women in Transition, found out about the project. "We looked into it and decided it was something we would like to get involved with," said Ms. Dion, who has worked at Women in Transition since last September and will be there until this September.
Susquehanna Valley Women in Transition provides free and confidential counseling services to anyone dealing with domestic violence or sexual assault issues in Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties.
"We've got sponsors. On Fire Promotions of Lewisburg is making T-shirts for the staff and me," she said. The back will have the shelter's logo and "Operation Freefall Jumping Out Against Sexual Violence." The staff will wear shirts with Eden's Parachute Posse.
Since Ms. Dion's nickname there is Super Trooper, her shirt will be lettered with Super Paratrooper.
A June 2005 graduate of McGill University of Montreal, she majored in political science and philosophy and plans to attend law school. While in college, she volunteered at a sexual assault center in Montreal.
To donate, visit www.firstgiving.com/eden or send donations to Susquehanna Valley Women in Transition at P.O. Box 170, Lewisburg, PA, 17837, or call 523-1134.
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