PBS高端访谈:非营利组织帮助老年人寻求刺激（在线收听）

JUDY WOODRUFF: And, finally, our NewsHour Shares, something that caught our eye, and we thought it might be of interest to you, too. It is true that old age can often lead to isolation or scaled-back lives. But one man wants to show senior citizens, when it comes to having goals, the sky's the limit. The NewsHour's Julia Griffin explains.

JULIA GRIFFIN: On a bright, sunny day recently, the professionals at Skydive Tecumseh in Jackson, Michigan readied their next pair of jumpers.

BEVERLY MYLEK, My Jump Participant: Not 20 seconds, 60 seconds.

BRENDA SUTTON, My Jump Participant: What? No.

BEVERLY MYLEK: Freefall.

JULIA GRIFFIN: At 78 years old, Brenda Sutton and Beverly Mylek were gearing up to take one giant leap out of a plane.

BRENDA SUTTON: I got the cute one.

JULIA GRIFFIN: It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity provided by My Jump, a nonprofit that provides seniors the opportunity to cross goals, no matter how outlandish, off their bucket lists. Television producer Webb Weiman founded the organization in 2011.

WEBB WEIMAN, Founder, My Jump: The idea of Jump came to me after my mother died and my father refused to leave his bedroom. I wanted to prove to him that there is life beyond the rocking chair and inspire others living in isolation that it's never too late to achieve your dreams.

JULIA GRIFFIN: After his father found love again, Weiman wanted to embolden other seniors to stay active later in life.

WEBB WEIMAN: Everyone should have something on their bucket list, and there are no bad bucket list items.

JULIA GRIFFIN: Skydiving tops the list of requests, but fulfilled dreams have run the gamut. My Jump has helped seniors drive 18-wheelers, ride in the Goodyear blimp, and get behind the wheel of race cars.

MAN: That was awesome. (LAUGHTER)

JULIA GRIFFIN: But there are less pulse-racing requests too, like vow renewals, first-time train rides, and veterans trips to war memorials. Any senior can apply to have a My Jump wish fulfilled. The organization selects experiences based on the applicant's health, cost feasibility and the story behind their request. Sutton had wanted to skydive earlier in life, but never found the opportunity. And for Mylek, the jump was a rare chance to do something for herself after running a family-owned restaurant for 36 years and now caring for her husband who can no longer work.

BEVERLY MYLEK: I was excited because I have never won anything in my life, so I didn't expect to win anything. And so I just like excitement, but maybe a little too exciting. (LAUGHTER)

JULIA GRIFFIN: Bucket list butterflies or not, the moment of truth ultimately arrived at 14,000 feet.

WEBB WEIMAN: What makes me most proud about this organization are the moments, the moment a participant steps out of a plane, a train, an 18-wheeler. It's seeing the passion in their eye. It's feeling the gratitude in their heart. This is truly one of the greatest chapters of my life.

JULIA GRIFFIN: And for Sutton and Mylek, safe landings marked one of the greatest days of their lives.

BEVERLY MYLEK: Yay!

JULIA GRIFFIN: For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Julia Griffin.

JUDY WOODRUFF: I'm not trying it, but I hope a lot of others will.