Special thanks to: Chicagoland Skydiving and Archway Skydiving Center
Click here to read what Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center has to say about Skydiver's for MS
About "Skydivers for MS"
Click here to download a pledge sheet.
Skydivers for M.S. was started in 1998 by two skydivers at Chicagoland Skydiving, when they learned that one of their fellow jumpers was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis.
Leslie Cole and Tamara Roth both participated in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's annual walk for M.S. in Chicago. After the walk, they decided on organizing a fundraiser at the local drop zone to benefit Ken Adams, the afflicted jumper. They talked to the D.Z. owner, Andre Weise, and he agreed to the event, as well as financing all of the initial cost.
They then enlisted the services of two more volunteers, Gavin Wright and Jim Cole, and these fundraising rookies got going. The 1998 event went very well, and raised $10,000 that first year, not bad for a few rookies working part time!
The skydiving community contributed greatly to that success, and the staff and local jumpers went all-out donating time, money, and services for this cause. Manufacturers donated a large quantity of equipment to be auctioned. The event resembled a skydiving "boogie" atmosphere immediately. Ken got to do his first "big-way," a round formation composed of sixteen skydivers and when the party started, it turned into a boogie. When Ken refused to accept the proceeds from the event, it was decided to give the money to the Illinois chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, so that it would be used to aid in the research for curing M.S.
The following season, people started asking about doing it again, so the whole process started again for 1999. The only difference being that Ken joined the organizers.
1999's event was even larger, with more manufacturers donating, and the raffle of a free parachute rig, and a season's free skydiving donated by DZ owner Andre Weise. The event raised over $18,000 in its second year. Local jumpers and skydiving professionals combined to create a great weekend for everyone, jumpers and non-jumpers alike.
The event is now turned into a annual event and is being held at two drop zones this year. Archway Skydiving Center in Vandalia, Illinois is also going to serve as a host for the event.
That's the basic history of Skydivers for M.S. : a lot of people doing a lot of work to help a friend.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS Talk
Xoom.com MS Community
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center
Today is
for more information contact: Ken Adams
SKYDIVERS FOR M.S.
c/o KEN ADAMS
P.O. BOX 760
HINCKLEY, IL. 60520
