A Personal Note:

Four years ago my co-worker and friend, Lisa, contracted a strep infection that went wild in her body. After months of hospitalization and clinging to life, Lisa came out of the hospital with her left arm and hand intact, and 3 short stumps where her right arm and legs use to be.  The best parts of Lisa were still there, her determination and sense of humor.  Lisa now refers to herself as “Lefty” and often reminds me not to be “a waste of 2 good legs.”

Why I Run:

To raise money and awareness for the Challenges Athletes Foundation (CAF), an organization committed to helping people become mobile and active.  CAF provides grants for prosthetics and adaptive equipment to those in need.  My goal is to ease the very difficult transition a person faces when dealing with an amputation or loss of limb.  By helping provide a properly fitting prosthetic, someone out there will soon be up and moving with family and friends, and ultimately, enjoying a better quality of life.

Simple Pleasures/Critical Need:

A grant from CAF helped Lisa purchase a bike that fit her needs and her body.  This bike has made it possible for Lisa to ride with her kids, instead of watching them from her window.  She is able to get that essential exercise, and for the past two years Lisa has ridden in the annual Moab race that she and her family and friends had enjoyed long before she became ill. Simple pleasures that many of us take for granted.

The Reality:

Like Lisa, people with amputations have huge hurdles ahead.  Aside from physical losses, there are emotional and social challenges, and the grief of a life that will never be the same.  On the more tangible side, there are frustrations of trying to make a cast of plaster, fiberglass, metal, and wire move like an arm or leg.  Amputees often go through three or four prosthetics a year due to the changes that their own body is making trying to adjust.  Most insurance companies will only provide one prosthetic a year.  It is simply impossible for a new amputee to have one prosthetic fit and be functional for everyday use.  And what about those people who want to do more than just be functional?  What about running, riding a bike, paddling a canoe, golfing, or any other activity that is loved? What if you were told you’d need $20,000 to $40,000 to enjoy your favorite activity? 

During the 2 Good Legs Run, Lorie Hutchison will challenge herself by running 18 marathons in 18 days covering the entire state of Utah from the North to the South borders.  The race will begin September 17th and finish on October 4th.  By doing this unbelievable challenge, Lorie hopes to inspire others to donate to the Challenged Athletes Foundation. She encourages others to run along with her or join at the planned events where our “bionic” team will inspire us with their stories and educate us by showing their prosthetics and how they have overcome their challenges.