EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was submitted by Ali Westergren.
ASHLAND — Sherry Butcher is not your typical mom being feted today.
Mothers come in all shapes and sizes, but very few probably drop from above, literally, and frequently.
Butcher does.
Sherry began skydiving in 1993, and was hooked after the first jump.
“I knew then I would never stop,” Butcher said. “I found something I loved and could teach.”
She began running the Ashland dropzone AerOhio in 1996 with her husband, Dave.
More than 10,000 jumps later, Sherry now has two sons – Andrew and Alex – who are also heavily involved in the skydiving community.
Andrew (23) has over 4,000 jumps and is a senior skydiving rigger, tandem and AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) instructor and videographer.
Alex (21) worked at the drop zone as the airplane loader for three years and is now in college in Columbus.
Sherry also serves as the National Director for the United Parachute Association (USPA), the governing body of skydiving.
She said that her favorite skydive was number 10,000 because it was a family skydive with her, her husband, and two sons.
Overall, she enjoys balancing skydiving and being a mother.
“The bottom line is part of being a good mother, in my humble opinion, is being happy with yourself and being fulfilled,” Butcher said. “Pushing back against societal pressures and norms for women (and moms) can be difficult.
“I feel that many women don’t live life to the fullest because it might feel (or someone tells them it is) selfish.
“I would reframe that to say living a bold and brave life gives you the tools to teach your children how to do the same!”
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