This is will mark the 4th year that our organization, Amputee Blade Runners, has hosted a team in the Tennessee Ragnar Relay. Last year, we were the 1st ALL AMPUTEE team in any Ragnar event. Join us as we host our 2nd Ragnar 'RunRaiser' to raise money & awareness!
Our goal is to raise $10,000, which will allow us to help 4 new amputee team members receive their custom socket & running leg. Insurance only covers the cost of a walking leg, so most amputees that want a running leg must cash pay between $8,000 to $20,000.
Throughout the almost 200 mile race, we want to compete hard, inspire others, break records, along with raising money & awareness for amputee athletes everywhere! Please consider donating to this campaign, so we can further our mission to help more amputees realize their dreams of running free again, or for some, the first time ever.
Participating Members:
Team Captain
Ryan Fann
Age: 33
Currently lives in: Savannah, GA
Type of amputation: Left leg, Boyd amputation
Reason for amputation: Accident at age 3
Affiliation with ABR: Co-Founder
Daryl Farler
Age: 36
Currently lives in: Franklin, TN
Type of amputation: Bilateral (double) below knee
Reason for amputation: Growing up, he was involved in stick and ball sports but did not run competitively. In 2006, he was scratched by his girlfriend's dog in the corner of his left eye and contracted a virus that caused his body to fall into septic shock forcing him into a coma for 2 weeks. This also resulted in the loss of both legs below the knee, portions of all his fingers, and sight in one eye. He struggled in the first few years after surgery with depression and ballooned to 280 pounds. Fortunately, he was given an opportunity to work at the clinic that makes his prosthetics. Shortly after beginning this new career, he was asked to be on the board of Amputee Blade Runners. He soon came to the realization that if he was going to be a part of a running charity, he'd better start taking part in the activity of running. After finishing his first 5K, he was hooked. He started slow, but within the first 2 years of running, he dropped 60 pounds, completed numerous 5K's, half marathons, several sprint triathlons, and even an Ironman 70.3. By 2016, he was returning to events as a repeat champion for his division but was given an even greater opportunity. He was granted a slot and finished the 120th Boston Marathon. His upcoming plans include another rad RAGNAR, another Boston Marathon, and completing his first Ironman with the ultimate goal to reach Kona. He lives by the motto “No Feet, No Excuses" and challenges people to get off the coach and enjoy being active. After all, he doesn't let missing limbs keep him from staying active. So what's your excuse?
ABR affiliation: As one of the first classes of ABR athletes, he received his first set of authentic, speed legs in 2011. He also serves as the ABR Community Liaison and as Applicant Chair of the Board.
Sarah Curlee
Age: 30
Currently lives in: Nashville, TN
Type of amputation: Left below knee ERTL
Reason for amputation: She had a stroke at 27 years old that resulted in two neurological movement disorders-dystonia and spasticity. Doctors performed a tendon-transfer surgery to improve the dysfunctional foot. The surgery backfired so she opted for amputation instead of chronic pain and painful bracing for the rest of her life.
Received leg from ABR: 2016
Sabrina Reiswig
Age: 37
Currently lives in: Clarksville, TN (Her husband is military)
Type of amputation: Knee disarticulation on the left side
Reason for amputation: Ewings Sarcoma in 1988
Received leg from ABR: 2016
Chris Mitchell
Age: 44
Currently lives in: Katy, Texas
Type of amputation: Bilateral (double) below knee
Reason for amputation: Complications from diabetes
Received leg from ABR: 2015
Darryl Partridge
Age: 52
Currently lives in: Clifton Park, NY
Type of Amputation: Left below knee
Reason for amputation: Ankle injury that resulted in 6 failed surgeries eventually leading to amputation
Received leg from ABR: September 2016
Brent Lambert
Age: 61
Currently lives in: Medina, NY
Type of Amputation: Right below knee
Reason for amputation: Bone disease of 40 years and 22 surgeries
Received leg from ABR: 2012
Mike Dimas
Age: 48
Currently lives in: Dallas, TX
Type of amputation: Left below knee
Reason for amputation: I lost my leg in April of 2013 after contracting necrotizing fasciitis - an infection caused by a flesh-eating bacteria. In the process of clearing the infection, my foot was so degraded the amputation was inevitable. I gained more mobility with a prosthetic than I would have had with the damaged limb.
Year you received your leg from ABR: I did not receive my blade from ABR. I was fit with my running blade by Kai Davis at Texas Vascular Associates in June of 2014. I have had tremendous support on my journey and Kai giving me the opportunity to run has been a true blessing. I was not a runner before I lost my leg. I don't really like running. I enjoy the camaraderie of my running group. I like eating tacos after a run. But at the end of the day, I run because I can. Some amputees want for a leg to walk - I was blessed with the tools to run...so I run. I am slow but I am faster than the guy who sits on the couch.
Sidney Smith
Age: 33
Currently lives in: Vernal, UT
Type of amputation: Bilateral (double) below knee ERTL since November of 2015
Reason for amputation: Charco-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. He had a rare extreme case that progressed as he got older. The battle was too much and too painful to move. Now he can run and do everything he's ever wanted and more!
Received legs from ABR: Fall of 2016
Chris Arnold
Age: 31
Currently lives in: Nashville, TN
Type of amputation: Right below knee
Received leg from ABR: 2016
Chris Madison
Age: 42
Currently lives in: Little Rock, Arkansas
Type of amputation: Right below knee
Reason for amputation: Boating accident at age 10
Received leg from ABR: 2015
Tim Cheatham
Brett McNinch
Age: 40
Currently lives in: Beavercreek, OH
Type of amputation: Left below knee
Reason for amputation: In July 2014, he was riding his motorcycle home from work when a girl (uninsured) lost control of her vehicle on the opposite side of the highway and went through the median to collide with him. He and his doctors opted for amputation after four weeks of struggling to salvage his foot. ABR affiliation: He is currently in the middle of applying for a professional running prosthesis from ABR
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 NOT covered by insurances and considered not medically necessary so our organization helps amputees keep an active lifestyle. Our goal is to provide a running prosthesis to one athlete in all 50 states. We currently have amputee athletes in 38 states who serve as ambassadors to other amputee athletes.
'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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