April 26, 2019
What keeps Sue coming back each week?
When I retired I wanted to replace a job I’d loved with something equally interesting and I was very lucky to find Legs4Africa. It’s so different from most of the charities I could have volunteered for. It’s unusual in that it’s a small charity with a huge reach. By that I mean that at 5 years old and with just 2 permanent full time staff and a few volunteers, Legs4Africa manages to cover the whole of the UK (and outposts in Australia and Canada) in its mandate to collect unwanted prosthetics, break them down and then ship them to an increasing number of centres in Africa.
Despite its relatively small size, the model is efficient and economical with great plans for the future. It has aspirations to fulfill the need for prosthetics in more countries and to do so with creative and seemingly never ending ideas and projects.
So, although my main focus is to enlist junior amputees in the UK to become donors of outgrown legs, the ethos of teamwork means that each week brings something different to work on. It’s this and knowing I can make a difference to the lives of young African amputees that means I treat my voluntary job with the same commitment as a paid position.
What is the Legs4Africa Gold Badge?
The Legs4Africa Gold Badge cannot be bought, it can only be earned. Reserved for extraordinary advocates, supporters and members of the Legs4Africa family this badge is always given in person, and is exclusively received by complete LEGends. With only a limited amount made in the entire world, you gotta do something pretty special to be awarded one of these.
Why has Sue got a golden Badge?
Sue joined our little team at the start of 2018 and dedicated herself to the Little Legs campaign to help us collect more children’s prosthetic legs. As children grow out of prosthetics faster than adults we recognised there must be a lot of limbs gathering dust under beds or even being thrown away. Sue’s dedication to the campaign has meant that hundreds of Little Legs have been saved and they’ll all go on to provide mobility and independence to children struggling with amputation in Africa.
About the author
Name: Tom Williams
My passion? Ensuring no prosthetic leg goes unused. I’m dedicated to collecting, refurbishing, and sending these vital pieces of technology to our partners in Africa, where they make a world of difference. When I’m not immersed in this mission at STAND, I’m often found outdoors, embracing nature. I love long walks in any season, camping under the stars, and enjoying the serenity of the great outdoors. My evenings often involve a unique hobby – maintaining and repairing old pinball machines. This blend of precision and nostalgia keeps me engaged and always learning. This fusion of dedication to my work and my love for nature and tinkering drives me every day, both at STAND and beyond.
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LEGS ON TOUR 26