On Saturday, April 17, Houston-based Limbs of Love and
Amputees in Action will sponsor the third annual Airborne Amputee Skydive in
Rosharon, Texas. Nearly 200 amputees will be in attendance and more than 100
amputees will take part in the skydive, including 30 wounded warriors. The
event will also include live music, World War II era planes, the Rehab Games
and children’s activities.
The amputees will jump in groups of 10 to 20 in several
different planes. Limbs of Love has submitted an application to the Guinness
Book of World Records for the most amputees to skydive at one event.
“Each of these amputees is jumping for his or her
reasons,” Joe Sansone, founder of Limbs of Love, explained to
O&P Business News. “But chief among them is their desire
to prove — to themselves and others — that life is not over after
amputation. Our common goal is to advocate for the rights and the abilities of
the amputee population.”
Prior to the jump, the wounded warriors will be escorted
to the event by 200 members of the Brazoria County Cavalry. World-record
holding mountain climber, Todd Huston, will then speak to the amputees. Huston
is the world’s only disabled athlete to hold a world-record in an
able-bodied sport.
“After the jump, most skydivers are
emotional,” Samsone said. “Some tear up, some scream on the way down
and some never utter a word. But they have accomplished something experienced
by few and to do so after suffering the loss of a limb is even more
special.”
Proceeds from the skydive will go to 2010 Airborne
Amputee beneficiaries, Glenda Miller and Aaron Acosta.
In the event of rain or heavy winds, the skydive will be
postponed until Sunday, April 18.
