July 5, 2012

It’s not the best way to earn a tandem skydive and balloon ride. Army Specialist Nick Mapson's Humvee passed over an Improvised Explosive Device in Afghanistan in 2004. He survived against all odds overcoming third-degree burns on his face, arms and hands, among other injuries. Nick has certainly earned a special honor.

On Thursday July 12th at 6:00pm, wounded warrior Mapson, Army Captain (Retired) James McCormick II, other veterans and families of local fallen heroes will represent all those who have served in the military as they participate in skydiving and balloon rides. They will tandem skydive with the Team Fastrax Skydivers at the Middletown Regional Airport, base of the Start Skydiving operation. Upon landing, the jumpers and families will take to the skies again in the baskets of hot air balloons provided by the MidUSA Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival. The public is invited to the airport to cheer on the veterans.

Wendy's restaurants will also join the skydiving group to show support for the troops.

The skydive/balloon launch kicks off the 10th anniversary of the MidUSA Ohio Challenge which runs July 13-15, Friday and Saturday 4-10:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday 7-11 am at Smith Park, just next door to the airport. Entrance for both events is at 1800 Germantown Road, Middletown, Ohio. Team Fastrax will be jumping throughout the weekend with their huge US Flags in conjunction with the balloon event, the largest being 7,800 square feet. Visit www.MidUSAOhioChallenge.com or call 513-705-1770 for full festival information.

In partnership with The Thank You Foundation, www.thethankyoufoundation.org , the professionals of Team Fastrax, www.teamfastrax.org, Skydiving Team offers a program called Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals. It’s their expression of gratitude for our military that allows veterans and wounded warriors the opportunity to go tandem skydiving with the team and experience the thrill of jumping from an airplane.

The Team Fastrax Skydiving Team is officially sponsored by Selection.com and is based in Middletown, Ohio. Since the inception of Team Fastrax in 2001, they have performed thousands of exhibition skydives as far away as Moscow, Russia and Normandy, France. The team has also jumped over balloon festivals, air shows, NASCAR, Indy Car, symphony performances, golf courses, amusement parks, mall parking lots, tennis courts, Red Bull Air Races and Veteran support events.