MORE THAN $20,000 was raised Saturday for Black Sheep Crossing animal rescue in a unique fundraiser which involved senior citizens parachuting out of an airplane. This picture of skywatchers was taken by photographer Ken Scott. Twenty-two seniors jumped from an airplane Saturday morning to raise money for Black Sheep Crossing farm animal rescue near Northport.

The jumpers ranged in age from 48 to 87 and tandem sky dived over Woolsey Airport in Leelanau Township.

“The youngest were 48 (the minimum age was 50) , but we took them anyway because they were grandparents,” said Cherry Scott, who along with husband Marty, operates the shelter.

Jumpers included two husband and wife teams and a mother and son team from Williamsburg.

To maintain its non-profit status, the organization could not pay for the jumping experience. Instead, skydivers paid the vendor for the trip and committed to raise $1,000 apiece.

More than $22,000 was raised through the event, which was organized by Scott and Lynne and Bill Watson from the Timberlee area.

“It is enough to pay off a loan we had to take out to cover veterinary bills and improvements to the building we had to make due to the age of some of our animals,” Scott said. “The older they get, the more expensive it becomes.”

Excess moneys raised will go to the shelter’s veterinary fund Scott said.

“It is so exciting not only because of what we accomplished but because it brought the community together,” Scott said.