In the 1800’s, women all over the world began to push for the right to vote. In most self-governed countries and the colonies of Great Britain, suffrage was reserved for white, land-owning men. In the United States, women like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton lead the movement with public speeches and protests around the country. In Great Britain, other women like Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, were repeatedly arrested and mis-treated for their activism. It would take these women and many others to follow, decades of hard work and sacrifice and to finally gain equality. In the United States, it wasn’t until 1920 that women’s suffrage became a federal right through the 19th amendment of the constitution.
To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of this achievement, women skydivers from around the world came up with a plan: to set a new word record. The effort, named “Project 19” would be a 100-way vertical skydive composed of all female skydivers. Highlight team members Amy Chmelecki and Sara Curts have organized several successful large skydiving record attempts and they became the primary leads of the effort. Other Highlight team members Melanie Curtis and Melissa Lowe are regional captains that host training camps to help prepare the women in their area for the record attempt.
Originally, the Project 19 record jump was scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020; however, the COVID-19 pandemic created a need to re-schedule. In order to give the women ample time to train and remain healthy, the new date of the record attempt has not yet been set but they are looking to complete the record in Fall of 2022.
Project 19 progress can be followed on social media @project19_skydiving or via their website
