![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20230925-130829-230927.SkydivingGrandma1.CB_.jpg?width=600)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20230925-130829-230927.SkydivingGrandma1.CB_.jpg?width=600)
Facing the fear of heights, one of man’s oldest fears, for a good cause is absolutely heartwarming. The sentiment drives even further home if the person facing their fears is an octogenarian. Sometimes, that’s the strange, magical world that we live in, where the only limitation is your imagination. Or so it seems with Shirley Romig, who turns 78 next year. Romig, who is undoubtedly young at heart, has gone skydiving 6 times, with a seventh outing planned for her next birthday.
The elderly daredevil last featured in the headlines in the lead-up to her sixth dive to raise funds for a noble cause. That’s right, this aged adrenaline junkie is skydiving to raise funds to support efforts to prevent child trafficking.
Skydiving for 78th Birthday
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Romig went on her first dive to bring in her 70th birthday with her daughter. She has since gone diving with her granddaughters as well as solo to raise money for causes ranging from child trafficking to a veteran’s service dog program. Still, Romig claims she would like the option of skydiving more often. “I would do it more often, but it’s kind of expensive, so I don’t get to it that often, but I’ll plan on it for my 78th birthday,” Romig said of skydiving.
Read More: VIDEO: Daring Skydiver Nearly Engulfed in Flames From Surprise at 3,000 Feet Above
The grandmother is certainly intrigued by the adrenaline-pumping activity. She describes the sport as an “amazing” feeling wherein you move from a free fall to just floating in the sky. Romig last took to the skies on September 17, 2023, with a freefall that she claims lasted for 55 seconds. the 77-year-old said the experience took her breath away, adding that the feeling of freedom when jumping has also helped her brain.
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While she’s been jumping 11,000 feet, she now has graduated to 14,000 feet. She even has more autonomy while jumping, pulling out her own parachute when necessary.
Why Romig Loves Diving
Aside from contributing to her causes, what Romig appreciates about skydiving is the adrenaline. She has claimed to be blown away, metaphorically, by the air pressure across her body while she descends to the ground. While her next dive will be a celebration rather than to promote a cause, we think Romig will be around making her way down from the clear blue sky for the foreseeable future.
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She remains passionate about her causes, which gives her cause to indulge her passion for skydiving. This means she’s not planning on giving up any time soon. Meanwhile, Romig is always looking for donors for her latest cause of choice until November. Her QR code can be found on her Facebook profile, Shirley Romig.
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