SKYDIVE 2015

“On May 3, 2015 University of Tennessee student pharmacists took to the skies once again to support children’s cancer research! “SKYDIVE 2015” was the second annual fundraiser groups at the College of Pharmacy have hosted to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Building from last year’s inaugural trip of twelve jumpers and a few hundred dollars raised via t-shirt sales, volunteers constructed a new website, www.TheVertical3K.org, to allow skydivers a place to create personal fundraising pages. These enabled the “SKYDIVE 2015” participants to promote the cause on social media as well as receive and track online donations from family and friends. This year, twenty-seven jumpers heroically took the plunge from 14,000 feet and helped raise $2,900 for the children’s hospital.

A notable portion of the donations also came through the “Canopies for Kids” Teddy Bear Campaign, which students ran in conjunction with the main event. This initiative allowed individuals to support the skydivers and the families of St. Jude in a very unique way. For a $20 donation the non-profit group, “Canopies for Kids,” provides skydivers with special stuffed teddy bears to take along for their jump. The tandem dive transforms them into “The Bravest Stuffed Teddy Bears in the World,” and the soft plush toys are given to siblings of St. Jude patients to comfort and encourage them as they travel the healing path with their brother or sister. In addition, each brave bear includes a $15 additional donation to the hospital. “SKYDIVE 2015” jumpers raised $600 for the campaign – enough to fully fund thirty bear sponsorships. This is the first time “Canopies for Kids” has teamed up with the children’s hospital, and St. Jude is excited about the shipment and looks forward to receiving more “hardcore teddy bears” in the future.

Special thanks to the “SKYDIVE 2015” Event Committee (Lauren LaBeff, Courtney Grant, Brandon Hazlett, David Skinner), Phi Delta Chi and the UT Chapter of APhA-ASP for facilitating this year’s fundraiser, the Dropzone Team at Music City Skydiving, and of course all of the sponsors and jumpers who made this year so fantastic.” -David Skinner

“SKYDIVE 2015” Participants: