WALTON COUNTY, Ga. -
What would you be willing to do to raise money for a cause you believe in? This weekend in Walton County, 33 people will put aside their personal fears in support of a group that has to overcome obstacles everyday.
For 18-year-old Matthew Dooley, who was born with cerebral palsy, the sky is the limit.
"I just want to show people I can do stuff even though I'm in a wheelchair, just in a different way," said Matthew Dooley.
And next on the stuff to do list for the grandson of University of Georgia coaching legend, Vince Dooley -- skydiving.
"This has always been my dream, and I've always wanted to do it," said Dooley.
Extra Special People, or ESP is a 25-year-old Watkinsville based charity that helps people with developmental disabilities. Their message is quite simple: I can.
"It's a place where their disability kind of melts away and they are who they are in the truest form and they're here for who they are and not who they're not," said ESP Executive Director, Laura Whitaker.
For years, Matthew has attended day camp and summer camp with ESP, and on Saturday his dream and one of his passions will come together high above the Monroe-Walton County Airport, at the second annual "Jump, Fly, Be Different," a fundraising idea that came right from the bucket list of Whitaker.
"I kept thinking about the kids. I thought this is something that I can do and this is something that they do all the time, overcome obstacles, so I can overcome this fear too," said Whitaker.
Last year's event drew 24 skydivers, most of them first timers, like Melissa Dempsey whose 9-year-old daughter Kailey Lynn has epilepsy and cerebral palsy, and Annie Curry, who is thrilled with what ESP has meant to her 21-year-old son Adnan who has Down syndrome. She'll never forget dropping him off for one of his first ESP activities.
"I watched him out through the window and his head was down and everyone was a stranger and when we picked him up he was singing backstreet boys with his ESP buddy. And he just excels here, excels," said Annie Curry of Athens.
"The child that wasn't supposed to be able to walk, wasn't supposed to be able to talk. She can sing songs with ESP, she... I've met her. She's a different person since we started here," said Melissa Dempsey of Winder.
Both moms, along with Matthew Dooley will be among the 33 skydivers on Saturday who hope to prove that the sky really is the limit.
"Matt is an amazing kid and he's just a symbol of what ESP represents and I think that's true life and overcoming obstacles and adventure," said Whitaker.
"My motto has always been never give up and just enjoy life, and this is the way I'm going to do it. So I'm definitely going to be on top of the world," said Dooley.
"Jump, Fly Be Different" is not only for skydivers. Everyone is invited to come out and watch on Saturday at the Monroe-Walton County Airport from noon until 8 p.m. Admission is free, and there will be food, fun, and entertainment for the whole family. For more information, visit http://www.extraspecialpeople.com/jump-fly.html
