At least six of the Boston Marathon bombing survivors will be on hand at the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) Össur Leg Running and Mobility Clinic October 6, according a CAF news release. The event is part of a series of mobility and sports clinics sponsored by Össur and conducted by CAF.
According to the release, it is slated to be held at Harvard University’s Cumnock V Field. More than 50 amputees from across the Northeast are expected to participate in the clinic. Following the Boston Marathon bombings, CAF states that it established a fund designed to support individuals who sustained amputations during bombings as they return to sport. CAF, Össur, and the Knights of Columbus will reportedly present a running leg to Boston survivor Heath Abbott, prior to the running clinic. Abbott lost her left leg below the knee and will be wearing her running leg for the first time at the Sunday clinic, learning proper running techniques from experts.
“…Thanks to our partners, the Knights of Columbus and Össur, we are delighted to be able to provide Heather—and any of the other survivors who request assistance—with the equipment that gets them back in the game, plus the instruction to get the most out of it,” Virginia Tinley, executive director, CAF, says.
During the Boston Amputee Running and Mobility Clinic, Bob Gailey, PhD, PT, and Peter Harsch, CP, are scheduled to teach athletes of all abilities how to improve their ability to run and walk. CAF anticipates that amputees of all ages and abilities will attend the clinic, including many injured military personnel.
CAF reports that it conducts more than 20 adaptive sports clinics annually across the United States and has assisted hundreds of leg amputees of all ages and abilities to run and move better, whether they are learning to run for the first time, or improving gait to compete at a Paralympic level.
Photo Credit: Business Wire
Source: CAF
