The 6th Annual Raymond James 5k Fun Run/2k Walk, sponsored by John Hancock, Putnam Investments, Principal Funds, Columbia, Delaware Investments, and Janus, has selected Amputee Blade Runners as the featured charity for the RJFS ELEVATE Conference. Each year the Fun Run is growing in participation, becoming a staple at this event. We hope this year will be the largest yet!
Amputee Blade Runners has greatly impacted nearly 200 amputees and their communities. Daryl Farler, a bilateral below the knee amputee, would be living a completely different life without Amputee Blade Runners. Because of the free running prosthetics Amputee Blade Runners provided, Daryl has completed several triathlons, a Half IronMan, several half marathons, and multiple Boston Marathons. A single piece of equipment can drastically change someone’s life.
EVERY dollar you donate goes directly to providing a running prosthetic, which can vary in price from $6,000-$8,000 for a below the knee, like Daryl, or up to $15,000 for an above the knee amputee. Amputee Blade Runners is able to provide a running prosthetic to each team member at NO cost, while keeping our cost to $3,300.
Last year, Raymond James raised $35,000, which provided running prosthetics for seven amputees. This year, the goal for the Fun Run to raise at least $40,000, which would provide 8 legs. Please consider participating in the Fun Run and supporting one of our own.
Amputee Blade Runners will be onsite at the conference April 28th and 29th during registration hours and during the Fun Run. If you see any of our Blade Runners walking around, please feel free to talk to them about their legs and how running has changed their life.
Amputees Helped Because of Raymond James
Maisie Hicks
Maisie is a cute kindergartner from Richmond, VA who lives out her middle name, Joy. Maisie was born missing bones in both of her legs but did not get quality medical care until she was adopted out of China at age 3. Last spring Maisie asked her parents a seemingly simple question, "can you teach me how to run?" At five years old, Maisie and never truly experienced the joy of running. With support from Raymond James, Amputee Blade Runners was able to provide Maisie with two new legs. She felt so comfortable in them she referred to them as "my marshmellow legs." She is now able to run and jump for joy.
Tatiana Orsburn
Tatiana is a 13 year old girl from Baltimore. She had amputation called a knee disarticulation while living in an orphanage in Russia. Tatiana is an impressive athlete but had to restrict her competitive endeavors to the pool. Many of you may have seen her attempt to run the 5K at last year's conference. Due to her old prosthetic set up, she did not get the energy return she needed and frequently had to stop to pour the sweat out of her socket. She traveled to ABR later in the summer and received not just a blade, but a more form-fitting socket which enabled her to feel the ground beneath her much better. She is now able to participate in any sport she desires.
Ryan Fann
Ryan is the co-founder of ABR, a certifed prosthetist (CP) and has a bachelors in Business Administration. Ryan’s journey into prosthetics started when he was 3 years old. Ryan was ran over while on his big wheel riding in his neighborhood resulting in losing his left leg below the knee. Ryan went on to play sports throughout middle school and high school. Ryan was a starting linebacker for his high school when playing in a TN all star game a prosthetic company offered to make him a running leg and Ryan then went on to run track at Tennessee State University (TSU) with the able bodied athletes the first to do so in TN. Ryan then ran with the US Paralympic track program earning multiple Gold and Bronze medals in the Paralympics.
Daryl Farler
Daryl joined the ABR team in January of 2011. In 2006 he was scratched by his girlfriend Chevonne's dog, in the corner of his left eye and contracted a virus that caused septic shock. This resulted in Daryl losing both legs below the knee, multiple fingers, and sight in one eye. Daryl began running to improve his health but soon got his competitive spirit back in gear. Daryl has completed numerous half marathons, a half Ironman, and is a repeat Endeavor Games Sprint Triathlon Champion for his classification. Daryl was also chosen by John Hancock to compete in the 120th and 121st Boston Marathon. Daryl is proof that a single gift can change a person.
About Amputee Blade Runners:
Amputee Blade Runners is a 501(c)3 organization, based in Nashville, TN, that helps provide FREE running & sports prosthetic to amputees through grants. Running prosthetics are considered "not medically necessary" and are NOT covered by insurance. Amputee Blade Runners helps amputees across the country keep an active lifestyle by providing equipment, education and empowerment.
'We believe that giving someone one piece of equipment can have the power to change their life moving forward, just like it did for me!' -Ryan Fann
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