Author: Heather Ruiz

Record-Breaking Women’s Skydiving Team Help Fellow “Sky Sister” Rock Her Cancer Battle With A Virtual Performance By Former Guitarist And Vocalist For The Multi-Platinum Band BOSTON

Record-Breaking Bay Area Skydiver Jill Scheidel Teamed Up With David Victor, Founder Of The Hospital Music Charity Harmony & Healing And Former Guitarist And Vocalist For The Multi-Platinum Band BOSTON, To Bring A Virtual Performance To Help Friend And Teammate On Her Journey To Healing

San Francisco Bay Area, CA (January 21, 2021) – The “Sky Sisters,” a group of four world-record skydiving women, recently surprised one of their own with a musical tribute to help her heal.

The online musical visit was organized by San Francisco Bay Area resident and “Sky Sister” Jill Scheidel. Scheidel’s long-time friend and fellow skydive teammate, Janet Lundquist is battling a second round of cancer and the disease and treatments have been, in Lundquist’s words “Brutal.”

With the help of David Victor, founder of the hospital music charity Harmony & Healing and former guitarist and vocalist for the multi-platinum band BOSTON, the two organized a virtual performance to help her friend on her journey to healing.

Victor founded Harmony & Healing in 2019. The mission is to deliver professional-caliber musical performances for patients and their loved ones in hospitals, children’s wards, and cancer centers.

With COVID-19 derailing the plans of in-person musical visits, Harmony & Healing now offers the services of the charity anywhere in the world via the “Virtual Visits” program.

Family members or friends of patients have the opportunity to organize the online visits and everyone can enjoy the music together via Zoom, Facetime, Google Meet, or the patient’s preferred platform. Harmony & Healing will often take musical requests and Victor will pair the virtual visit recipient with the perfect musician. Following the visit, Harmony & Healing provides a video of the Virtual Visit to the recipient and loved ones to enjoy.

Scheidel and her “Sky Sisters” have organized and participated in several world-record skydives for large formations, including many through Jump for the Cause (JFTC). JFTC is a non-profit all-female team that has set world records to raise money for breast cancer research. The group was co-organized by Mallory Lewis, the daughter of Shari Lewis, the puppeteer of Lamb Chop.

Everyone on the “Sky Sisters” virtual visit has battled or is currently battling cancer, and Scheidel saw this as a unique and welcome opportunity to support her life-long friend.

To learn more or to donate, visit the Harmony & Healing website.

DANVILLE, Calif. – In this year of COVID-19, there may not be much to smile about these days. Except maybe in Danville.

Downtown is now dotted with smiley face signs. And people are taking notice.

“It’s great. Especially in the time we are living in. We can all use a little cheer,” says resident Niki Hall

The signs are all hand-crafted in the home workshop of 17-year-old San Ramon Valley High School senior Aidan Cox.

“I think everyone is a little down about no school and everything is closed. I thought a smiley face would cheer people up a little bit,” Cox said.

Aidan has created and hung about 20 signs so far. The first was in his neighborhood in Alamo.

The signs are made of plywood and each one takes days to complete.

“Ever since I was a kid I always signed my name with a smiley face. I always loved smiley face emojis. I figured let’s just start out with this,” Cox says.

Those who walk or drive by seem to appreciate the simple sentiment. Aidan’s handy work has gotten a mention on the Facebook page of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce.

“This is a perfect way this student has come up with. A way to make people happy. And I think people need a little pick up this time of year,” says chamber CEO Judy Lloyd.

The chamber hopes the signs will help draw people to the area and perhaps local restaurants for take-out.

Elected officials are also applauding the teenager.

“Hats off to this guy for doing a good job of bringing enthusiasm and trying to spread cheer at a time when many people might not be so cheerful. Well done,” said Danville Vice-Mayor Newell Arnerich.

“I feel really proud when I’m driving by and see them I think I did this myself. And it makes other people happy. I’m planning to keep doing it. Spread further out to other towns. And keep going,” says Cox.