LEBANON — "It was the most awesome feeling. I would do it again in a heartbeat," said Diane Smallwood after jumping out of an airplane 12,000 feet in the air.

Smallwood, a 51-year-old cancer survivor from Monroe, and her Start Skydiving instructor, Clint Leighton, 28, of Lebanon, made a one-minute free fall tandem jump out of a 17-seat aircraft and then sailed about four minutes under a parachute and partly sunny skies before touching down to help raise funds for the Lebanon Relay For Life.

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She hasn't left the ground yet, but Monroe resident Diane Smallwood is already excited as she gets jumping instructions from Clint Leighton, her Start Skydiving instructor.Click to enlarge

Smallwood said her jump at the Warren County Airport in Lebanon on Friday, May 16, gave her the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream while helping others.

"I've had this list of things I've always wanted to do before I go to the next world, and my oldest son B.J. and I have always talked about doing it," she said.

"In fact, when I was told, yes, that I was going to do it, truly, the first person I called was my son because I knew he would be excited.

"My husband on the other hand, he just kind of said, oh, OK. I'm always for a good dare. I'll try about anything within reason," she said.

Smallwood's family members, including her sisters, Jo Wise, chairwoman of the 2008 Lebanon Relay For Life, and Suzanne Mehl, the public relations chairwoman for the event, along wither her husband, Bill, and their youngest son, Tim, and friends were on hand to cheer her on for the event.

Start Skydiving, a sponsor of this year's ninth annual Lebanon Relay For Life, is donating $10 for every jump made through the weekend at the event that begins at 1 p.m. today through 7 a.m. Sunday at the Warren County Fairgrounds.

Smallwood, who was diagnosed with melanoma four years ago this month and is cancer free today, said she couldn't pass up the opportunity to skydive.

Relay participants help raise money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society stamp out the disease.

Smallwood said event organizers sought cancer survivors who would be willing to jump from a plane.

"I was like if it will help raise money (for cancer), I'll do it," she said.

Smallwood, who runs her own house cleaning business, also serves alongside her two sisters as accounting chairwoman for the event.

Contact this reporter at (513) 753-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.

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