Leap of faith

Navy veteran Dave Sheldon of Hayden is preparing to face his fear of heights and jump out of an airplane on Sept. 11. He is working to raise funds for 9/11 Health Watch, a nonprofit that provides quality medical care and compensation for injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors, as well as Newby-ginnings of North Idaho, a nonprofit that supports veterans and their families. Sheldon is seen here in his home Thursday. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)

Navy veteran Dave Sheldon on Thursday afternoon points to a newspaper clipping he framed after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack. It shows the New York skyline with lights in the place of the Twin Towers. Sheldon will jump out of a plane on Sept. 11 as he raises money for 9/11 responders and for a local veteran support organization. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)

This image commemorating the life of SPC. Nicholas Newby, killed in action in 2011, is wrapped around Navy veteran Dave Sheldon's vehicle. Sheldon is friends with Newby's mom, Theresa Hart, and Sheldon plans to raise funds for the nonprofit named in Newby's honor, Newby-ginnings, by skydiving for the first time in his life, and after having two back-to-back heart attacks. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)

Dave Sheldon, left, receives his chief petty officer ranking in Aug. 1983, joined by wife Carla Sheldon (now of 45 years) and Capt. Charles I. Cook of the USS Jason (AR8). Sheldon, now 67, will jump out of a plane on Sept. 11 to raise funds for Newby-ginnings, a local veteran nonprofit, as well as the 9/11 Health Watch nonprofit that supports 9/11 responders and their families. (Courtesy photo)