The eighth annual Jump for the Rose Pinkfest Boogie in the fall of 2017 was the best so far! The skydiving community raised $31,000, which it presented to the Rose—a non-profit clinic that provides breast cancer care to all, regardless of their ability to pay—on December 13. The Rose helped event organizer Marian Sparks in her time of need in 2009, and she created Jump for the Rose as a way to give back. So far, JFTR has raised more than $157,000 for the Rose since its start in 2010.

The JFTR Board of Directors—Vice President Leah Blache, Secretary Ginger Snowden, Treasurer Gwen Murillo and Event Coordinator Robin Williams, along with President Sparks—presented the check to CEO Dorothy Gibbons and Dr. Dixie Melillo, founders of the Rose. Special guests included USPA Gulf Regional Director Chuck Akers, wingsuit organizer Mike Swearingen and Maggie Burkett with Sam’s Club. Big Air Sportz; Larsen & Brusgaard; Performance Designs; Skydive Spaceland—Houston in Rosharon, Texas; Trinity Bay Tactical; Velocity Sports Equipment and many individual donors supported the efforts.

Jump for the Rose’s motto is, “Skydive, have fun, give back.” It has scheduled its 2018 Pinkfest Boogie at Skydive Spaceland-Houston in October. More information about the organization and its annual boogie is available on its Facebook page and at jumpfortherose.org.

Marian Sparks  | D-29599
Baytown, Texas