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| Hope Bevilhymer shows prosthetic limbs. |
Hope Bevilhymer: Hero Update
posted: 11/10/2005
At age 25, Hope Bevilhymer’s right leg was amputated from the knee down, ending a lifetime of difficulty with her bilateral clubfeet. Soon after the amputation, Bevilhymer saw a documentary on African and Laotian refugee land mine amputees who could not afford prosthetic limbs. The victims’ stories inspired her to create the “Limbs of Hope Foundation.” Limbs of Hope collects used prosthetic limbs to donate to amputees in developing countries with histories of hidden land mines. This October, Bevilhymer made her second prosthetic limb delivery to Cambodia, where a large portion of the population is missing a limb. “Last time we were in Cambodia, we were establishing contacts and meeting people,” Bevilhymer said. “This time, we were able to bring more prosthetic limbs and sporting goods equipment, including jerseys, balls, basketball rims and air pumps.” Bevilhymer and her foundation delivered the sporting goods equipment and then spent time playing various sports with the donation recipients. “We were able to bring air pumps to inflate sports ball and wheel chair tires,” Bevilhymer said. “With air in their wheel chair tires, the people we met once again gained mobility and were able to play wheel chair basketball.” Bevilhymer credits much of the Limbs of Hope Foundation’s recent success to winning the Volvo for life Award. Her short term and long term goals for the foundation include expanding the donation request area nationwide and creating “Camp Amp,” where amputees can meet one another and have fun while completing endurance courses and playing sports. “Because of the Volvo for life Award, Limbs of Hope can worry less about the expensive prosthetic limb shipping costs to foreign countries,” Bevilhymer said. “We can now send more prosthetics to make a difference for those who cannot afford them. I am so grateful for all Volvo has done and continues to do. It’s part of my family now, and the award really changed how this foundation and my life are run.”
How You Can Help Hope Bevilhymer
To learn more about Hope and her cause, how you can make a difference, please visit: www.LimbsofHope.org
or
Limbs of Hope Foundation
Po Box 116
West Jordan, UT 84084
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