"Nine years ago, when I was 80 years old, I looked out my window from my apartment in Netanya, Israel and saw paragliders in the sky and I thought that it looked like a wonderful thing to do", explained Trude Bibring. A few weeks later she paraglided and loved it.

As a matter of fact, Trudy has made several flights since then. Bibring, a native Austrian, has been living in Israel for the past 30 years and is quite active in the Afula English-speaking chapter of Emunah, the National Religious Women's Organization, in Netanya.

These devoted women are constantly thinking of innovative ideas to help raise funds for the 600 children at risk in five children's homes throughout Israel. Their philanthropic endeavors include interesting lectures, conferences, fashion shows and raffles.

Trude was definitely planning a very creative initiative of her own.

On Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 1 pm Trudy, together with her paragliding instructor, jumped off the cliff near the Carmel Hotel in Netanya and experienced the warm sun, sea breeze and spectacular view.

Friends, most of them quite younger than Trude, looked up to her with lots of pride and a bit of envy.

Watch Trude paraglide

Besides her own personal enjoyment, there was another reason why Trude "took to the sky". "People sponsored me. I did it to raise money for the children at risk in Emunah facilities and I was able to raise over NIS 4000".

Trude, an inspiration for all of us, goes to "great heights" to benefit the lives of disadvantaged children. A petite woman who is truly bigger than life.