How Christopher’s Leg may Help a Biker in Africa

July 30, 2021

So many amputations are the result of a traumatic road accident and regardless in which part of the world they occur, the consequences are equally devastating to the individual and those close to them. In Africa road accidents are a major cause of amputation but the difference in the outcome between an African and, for example, a UK citizen is stark. In the UK an amputee will have their needs met by the NHS whilst in Africa, they must pay for a prosthetic, the cost of which is far beyond what thousands of Africans can afford, condemning them to a future without hope.

It is these amputees, caught in the economic trap, that Legs4Africa wants to help get back on their feet and back into society as valued members of their community. However, we couldn’t do it without the generosity of amputees and their families in so many western countries who donate outgrown or no longer needed prosthetics to Legs4Africa.

Many young Africans enjoy motorbikes and here in the UK, Christopher was no different. He loved riding his motorbike until in 1972 when he was just 19, a drunk driver knocked him off his bike and as a result his leg had to be amputated. There the similarities between an African and a western biker end. With a prosthetic leg and continued support from the NHS, Christopher was able to pick up the threads of his life again and live as fully as he possibly could. In life, he was kind and generous to everyone and so, when he died last year, his brother Mark knew that Christopher would be keen to have his prosthetics sent to Legs4Africa so they could give an amputee in Africa a similar opportunity to look forward to the future, to get back to school or work, to support their family and rejoin society….and maybe to revving up on their motorbike again.

About the author

Name: SuePownall

Hi, I’m Sue! I answer all your queries, coordinating generous leg donors from around the globe with our partners in Africa and giving people who need a prosthetic leg the details of our partners at rehabilitation centres in sub Saharan Africa that will help them. Apparently, I’ve got a keen eye for detail so I also try to catch any typos and spruce up our blogs. When I’m not wielding my admin wand, you’ll find me lost in a good book, doodling away, getting crafty with some sewing, soaking up some ballet or theatre, or just chatting and laughing with my friends. And yes, I’m often the one bringing the biscuits – because who doesn’t love a good biscuit?