'Gutsy' 80-year-old checks off skydiving dream from bucket list and sums it up in one word

While some people worry about getting older, others embrace it, creating unforgettable moments that defy expectations. Lorraine Gerson, an 80-year-old from Montgomery County, Maryland, is one of those inspiring individuals. Her story of courage unfolded recently when she crossed skydiving off her bucket list, as first reported by ABC affiliate WJLA.

Earlier this September, Gerson decided to take a daring plunge into the middle of the sky as AARP’s Wish of a Lifetime program helped make her lifelong dream come true. Being a resident of Cadence at Olney, a senior living community in Olney, Maryland, Gerson has always wanted to skydive, as per ABC affiliate WBMA. Despite relying on a walking aid to move around, the 80-year-old didn't have a second thought about skydiving. "24 years ago, I went on a hot air balloon. It was so great that I said to my husband, 'Wouldn't it be great to jump out of an airplane.' He goes, 'No,'" Gerson recalled. "But I have always wanted to."

The challenging part for the old woman was convincing her family to let her go on this thrilling adventure. "We have the funeral home lined up," Gerson jokingly told WJLA. However, her daughter was quite nervous and couldn't believe she was actually about to skydive. Gerson's excitement multi-folded when a bunch of her friends from the senior living facility accompanied her to watch her skydive and cheer her on. One of her friends called her "gutsy" and many others were glad to see Gerson execute her dream.  

The activity involved 50 seconds of free fall at the speed of around 120 miles per hour after Gerson, along with her instructor, jumped off the plane. "The time I'm up there I'm up there, I can be at peace and think about nothing else but the wind and the sound," she hoped. After buckling up for safety, Gerson excitedly got on the plane and as she made the jump one could see the happiness washed over her face. After spending several seconds soaring amid the clouds, Gerson was landed safely with a parachute. In one word, she summed up her experience as "Great," according to PEOPLE. For anyone wishing to skydive, Gerson recommended that they try it "only if they like airplanes."

Gerson just proved that you're never too old to take risks and she's not the only one. In 2022, an elderly woman celebrated her 95th birthday by taking her third skydive. Yes, you heard it right! It was her third time after her previous skydiving experiences when she was 77 and 89, as per The Independent. Mercy Baggs from Wiltshire, England, believes that "life begins at 60" and that age is "just a number." Sharing her golden words of wisdom, Baggs said, "Never let anyone make you feel like you cannot do something because of your age because I don’t." Wiltshire Farm Foods shared her incredible achievement on X.