"Look Mom... No Hands"

I spent last weekend at Seattle's Museum of Flight as we took women on Free Flights. Tomorrow we'll have the exact number and photos galore. But today, meet an amazing pilot who will show you that there is nothing you can't do, despite the obstacles you think may be standing in your way. 

Please meet Jessica Cox, and see what she is doing to save the children of the world.

Jessica Cox

Last year at Oshkosh I had the most inspiring experience when I met Jessica Cox... a woman born without arms. I'm here to say... when you feel bad about yourself, and think you've been dealt a bad hand... be thankful you have hands. Jessica doesn't.

Jessica doesn't have arms. But she flies an airplane! 

How awesome is that? 

More than surviving the challenges that she was born with, she told me that if she could be born again, she would not change a thing. Yep... that means no arms. Her life has been filled with many blessings and opportunities compliments of the body she was gifted. How can we call this woman handicapped? She proves that with the right attitude, anything is possible.

Life wasn't easy by any means. So Jessica is spending her life helping others by speaking to the children. Inspiring. Helping others with their challenges. Showing them nothing is impossible.

With your help, Jessica is off on another adventure!

Recently the Nobel Prize-winning NGO Handicap International asked Jessica to travel to Ethiopia, where they are running a program to allow children with disabilities to attend public schools. This is huge for these kids. Jessica's being there is essential to build confidence and show they can do anything.

Jessica says,

"Seeing kids receive an education and the opportunities that come with it is dear to my heart, and advocating for them is what I was born to do.

As some of you know, since early last year I've been working with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nick Spark to create a documentary about my life and work. We call it RIGHTFOOTED. Filming my trip to Ethiopia will be an important part of the documentary — and will allow me to share the experience with you and millions of people around the globe."

Right Footed Trailer

To fund the trip, they have launched a crowdsourcing campaign on IndieGogo. Please click on the link at the bottom of the page that says, HELP JESSICA INSPIRE THE CHILDREN. 

Please share Jessica's story with your family, friends, and co-workers today.  Jessica wants the entire world to see this video. We only have 7 days to go!

You can help a number of ways...

• Click on the link below and donate, and/or
• Spread the word. 
• For every person who follows my blog, and leaves a comment on how they spread the word (emailed friends, tweeted, facebook post...etc.) I will add another dollar to the donation I will make. 

HELP JESSICA INSPIRE THE CHILDREN

Ready. Set. Go! 

We have 6 days to help Jessica get to Ethiopia!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Airport Safety!

My friend Robin sent me the following message. I think in the view of aviation safety, this is a must to pass on. When Safety is in question, we must take action. 

Help remove big threat to aviation safety at the Schellville Airport in Sonoma County.  Why?  Yes, this is a small general aviation airport, who cares?  I do, for one for three (ok, 4) reasons:

1. Someone knowingly built a clear hazard to aviation safety when they willfully violated the law constructing a solid log fence across an active runway overrun.  Someone who is trying to make an emergency landing or regular landing on this runway will unlikely see the fence before it is too late and hit it.  The people who constructed the fence do not care that the presence of the fence may kill people.  (They also had a gun target that had people shooting live ammunition across the approach path of the other runway at Schellville.  They only took it down when Channel 7 said they were going to put it on TV.

2.  These same people violated several zoning and land use laws building a business with a huge pond that will attract additional water fowl and other birds that are a hazard to aviation.  Their property directly abuts the airport (which was there more than 30 years).  They couldn't get the permits they wanted to and built anyways and are attempting to get the land re-zoned.  If they accomplish this, it will put all general airports in the State of California (like Sonoma Skypark where we have our C-120) at risk by setting a precedent to change zoning laws in attempt to close airports and develop the land.

3. If the airport closes, the income lost from the airport to the county, which will be much more than the new business (Leland Fly Fishing) generates, can easily cause my taxes to go up.

4.  General principle. They have completely disregarded the county, state, and federal laws, the building and use permit process that you and I have to follow.  They seem to feel he is above the law.  

That just pisses me off to no end.

There is a lot more information below.  This is a link to a piece Channel 7 did a month or so ago that is about 10 minutes long.  Thanks for reading this.  And if you do sign, please forward on to anyone you think might care about airport safety.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Find Sonoma County Airport here

Thanks!  Robin

Robin, Flight to Success and all the followers are on this for you. Together we can make a difference~

XO Karlene