Operation Freefall helps people reclaim their lives

By: REBECCA JAMESCOURIE - For The Californian | Saturday, April 24, 2004 9:36 PM PDT ∞

LAKE ELSINORE ---- A young woman's quest to turn tragedy into triumph has inspired people across the nation as hundreds take to the skies to reclaim their lives.

Folks took a two-mile-high stand against sexual assault during Operation Freefall on Saturday as hundreds of people throughout the nation donned jumpsuits, boarded a plane and jumped in tandem to support the groups Speaking Out Against Rape and Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.

"Wow, that was awesome," said Kellie Greene, SOAR founder, after experiencing a tandem jump with Skydive Elsinore at Skylark Airport. "I didn't expect the beautiful view."

This is the fourth year Operation Freefall has garnered national support. Of the $300 registration fee, $200 goes toward the cost of the jump and $100 is split between SOAR and RAINN. Spearheaded by Orlando, Florida, resident Greene, 38, the unusual skydiving celebration of life was initially a personal statement Greene took to reclaim the day she was raped, Jan. 18, 1999.

"Every year on that date, I'd remember what happened to me and feel like a victim again," Greene said. "I was tired of it being a negative day."

Greene's step out of a plane and into the sky helped her reclaim the tragic day, and she now refers to it as the day she goes skydiving.

"The first time was exciting, and I screamed the whole way down," she said, laughing at the memory. "I remember thinking the rapist was in prison and this is something he can never, ever do."

When news of Greene's skydiving reached talk show host Oprah Winfrey, Greene was invited as a guest on the show and footage of her tandem fall was shown. Greene said she didn't think too much about it until the next skydiving episode, when 20 people showed up to dive with her.

That was four years ago. Now, Greene has founded the nonprofit SOAR organization, where she travels the country and speaks to college students about the healing process. She also speaks to law enforcement about "victim sensitivity." When Greene's rapist received only 22 years for his crime against her because he was already serving a previous sentence for rape, Greene went to her governor and worked with him on getting the "Sexual Predator Prosecution Act of 2000" passed ---- which mandates consecutive sentences for repeat sex offenders and repeat murderers.

As a spokesperson for RAINN, Greene is currently lobbying to pass the DNA initiative recently announced by President George Bush.

Greene jumps twice a year, January 18 and the last Saturday in April. This weekend, nine skydivers signed up to jump with her at Skydive Elsinore at Skylark Airport, which agreed to be one of the drop zones.

"Skydiving leads to positive outcomes in people's lives," said Betsy Burkey, manager of Skydive Elsinore. "When we can help change people's lives, then it's a good thing."

Greene's friend, Joi Falk, 29, said she remembers one of Greene's first jumps and how excited she was.

"It's a rush and one of the most exciting things you can do," said Falk, who has logged 600 jumps.

Brian Erler, 34, has been Greene's videographer and friend since the beginning. Erler said he works with Greene because "it's such an extraordinary cause."

"I've seen what she does," said Erler, who straps a 10-pound video camera to his helmet to capture Greene's dive. "People who make a jump get their lives back. You can't help but be touched, and it's a worthwhile cause to be involved in."

Greene said there's a similarity between skydiving and finding the courage to make a change in one's life.

"You put your trust in the skydiving master and trust in yourself," she said. "When you get to the edge of a plane at 15,000 feet, your mind says, 'This isn't right,' so you have to have the courage to jump out that door. The healing process after being assaulted takes a lot of courage ---- you commit yourself to face what has happened. Once you jump out the plane, there's no turning back, and once you push through the wall of not wanting to feel the pain, there's no turning back. You can't stop it, and you ultimately reclaim the day."

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.