70-year-old man skydives 70 times on his birthday

Man says he jumps for wife who has multiple sclerosis, raised $6,000

MACOMB COUNTY – A man celebrated his 70th birthday jumping out of a plane 70 times on Wednesday in Macomb County.

The pilot of the plane was ready at 8:30 a.m. waiting to take 70-year-old Larry Ekstrom skydiving.

"The only thing I'm looking at is the grass is wet and I'm probably going to slide on my butt," said Ekstrom.

Ten years ago, to celebrate his 60th birthday, Ekstrom went skydiving not once, not twice, but 60 times.

"I find out ten years later from the pilot that I wore him out," said Ekstrom.

Jumping for a good cause

Ekstrom has been skydiving for 46 years and decided to dedicate his 60 jumps to the woman he loves.

"I did 60 for 60 for my wife who has MS (multiple sclerosis)," said Ekstrom.

Ekstrom says he has raised nearly $6,000 for MS.  In honor of his 70th birthday, he decided he would dedicate more of his time in the sky and make 70 jumps to raise money for Leader Dogs for the Blind of Rochester.

"My friend who works there is the manager," said Ekstrom. "I thought this time would be a good one."

The staff at Midwest Freefall Sport Parachute Center are helping Ekstrom accomplish his goal of 70 jumps for his 70th birthday by packing his parachutes, getting him back in the plane to take off, and jump again and again.

Ekstrom plans on living a long time and want to continue to push the age boundary as long as possible.

"I just wanted to do it," said Ekstrom. "It's just another milestone and proves somebody can do something."