Össur Running and Mobility Clinic Presented by CAF Helps New England Amputees Reach Running and Mobility Goals

Össur Running and Mobility Clinic Presented by Challenged Athletes Foundation Helps New England Amputees Reach Running and Mobility Goals Challenged Athletes Showcase High Technology Prosthetics at Clinic on Nov. 14

BOSTON – NOV. 5, 2015 – The Össur Boston Running and Mobility Clinic, presented by the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), is one of eight no-cost adaptive running and mobility clinics conducted annually across the nation to help people with physical challenges learn to walk and run.

Taking place at Boston Athletic Club on Saturday, Nov. 14, the annual clinic provides an encouraging environment where more than 30 attendees will learn to walk and run with proper technique through fun drills and exercises. Participants will work side by side with local medical professionals, and have an opportunity to meet and learn from world champion parathletes. World-renowned amputee rehabilitation experts Bob Gailey, Ph.D., PT and Peter Harsch, CP will lead the clinic.

“The Running and Mobility Clinics we hold with the Challenged Athletes Foundation exemplify that no matter what physical challenge one may face, a life without limitations is still in reach,” said Kim De Roy, CPO/PT, vice president of sales & marketing and education, prosthetics for Össur Americas.

To kick off the clinic, Femita Ayanbeku, a 23 year old from Boston who lost her leg at the age of 12 in an automobile accident, will receive a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Össur for a custom Össur Flex-RunTM prosthetic foot with NIKE Sole. Femita is very active within the local amputee community and has a life-goal of starting a rehab/recreation facility specifically for amputees.

Also in attendance at the clinic will be Boston Marathon survivors Roseann Sdoia and Heather Abbott, both amputees after being injured in the 2013 bombings. Just six months after losing her left leg, Heather was at this same clinic learning how to run on a Össur Flex-Run prosthetic that she was granted by the two organizations.

This year, the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Össur are collaborating with the Heather Abbott Foundation to give 8-year-old Kori Tickel of Somerset, Massachusetts a custom Össur Flex-Run Junior running foot that she will be learning how to run on.

Kori lost her leg to a lawn mower accident at 2 years old and the advanced Össur prosthetic, which is specifically designed for kids’ high-impact physical activities, will allow her to keep up with her peers and better her soccer skills.

“This year’s clinic truly embodies a pay it forward spirit with our ability to work with The Heather Abbott Foundation and Össur to give the gift of extended mobility to these local Boston-area girls,” said Dawna Callahan, director of programs for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, fellow challenged athlete and a four-time Boston Marathon finisher. “Physical activity and sports has such a profound affect on one’s mental and physical health, which we believe everyone of all ages and abilities should have the opportunity to experience.”

About Össur

Össur (NASDAQ: OSSR) is a global leader in non-invasive orthopaedics that help people live a life without limitations. Its business is focused on improving people’s mobility through the delivery of innovative technologies within the fields of Prosthetic, Osteoarthritis and Injury Solutions. A recognized “Technology Pioneer,” Össur invests significantly in research and product development—its award-winning designs ensuring a consistently strong position in the market. Successful patient and clinical outcomes are further empowered via Össur’s educational programs and business solutions. Headquartered in Iceland, Össur has major operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, with additional distributors worldwide. To learn more, visit www.ossur.com.

About the Challenged Athletes Foundation

The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is a world leader in helping people with physical challenges lead active, healthy lifestyles. CAF believes that participation in physical activity at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $70 million has been raised and over 11,000 funding requests from people with physical challenges in all 50 states and dozens of countries have been satisfied. Additionally, CAF’s outreach efforts reach another 60,000 individuals each year. Whether it’s a $2,500 grant for a handcycle, helping underwrite a carbon fiber running foot not covered by insurance, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar challenge, CAF’s mission is clear: give opportunities and support to those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles. To learn more, visit challengedathletes.org or call 858-866-0959.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: You may attend the clinic and may film, interview or take photographs.
Media Timeframe: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Boston Athletic Club Indoor Fieldhouse: 653 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210

On-Site Media Contacts: Elizabeth Vanderweerd, (Össur) at 949-282-4748and Dawna Callahan (CAF) at 303-475-7030