Shirley Romig, 79, from Battle Ground loves skydiving, and she is turning her passion into a fundraising effort for Shared Hope International, an organization with local roots that combats sex trafficking and helps survivors recover and then thrive

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

It is less than a week now until Shirley Romig plans to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

“I’ll free fall for about seven seconds, the chute opens, and then you just float around,” Romig said.

Sure, nothing to it.

Nothing at all for this 79-year-old from Battle Ground.

Sunday will be her seventh jump — she goes tandem, jumping with a professional skydiver. 

This will be her first in support of Shared Hope International.

The Skydiving Great Grandma jumps to raise awareness and to raise funds for charitable causes. 

On Sunday in Oregon, she will take the leap for an organization that was founded by former Southwest Washington politician Linda Smith. Shared Hope International’s mission is to eradicate sex trafficking, while also working to restore and bring justice to survivors.

“I don’t have a lot of money, but I have time, and I can skydive,” Romig said. 

So she is combining one passion — skydiving — with another — raising awareness for worthy causes.

“You’re never too old to make a difference,” said Romig, who drove a school bus in Battle Ground for more than 30 years before retiring.

Active in many causes, she watched the movie “Sound of Freedom” and was moved to do more. That movie tells the story of a U.S. government agent who busts a child sexual abuse ring in Colombia. Romig wanted to join the fight.

“I learned that you have to speak,” she said. “I can open my mouth, and I can talk. If I don’t start saying things, how will anyone know?” 

She had helped other organizations, but now she wanted to join Shared Hope International, an international organization with local roots.

“I love that they bring hope to people who have been in sex trafficking. They help with (creating) laws. They have homes for people who have been involved in this,” Romig said, noting that it is evil what has happened and what continues to happen to so many young people. 

Romig will jump for Shared Hope International on Sunday, Aug. 24 at PNW Skydiving in Mulino, Ore.

Shared Hope International has a link to donate to Romig in recognition of her jump. Romig’s mission is to share the message: Our kids are not for sale.

The goal is to raise $14,000, one dollar for every foot she falls. (Actually, Romig says she will be jumping out of the airplane at 14,500 feet. Either way, impressive, right?) 

“This is more than a skydive,” Shared Hope International reports. “It’s a statement.”

To donate to Shirley Romig’s skydive and cause, go to: https://sharedhope.org/appealforms/great-grandma/