The Born to Run Foundation has received a donation from the Feeney Family of Melrose for $8,150 to help provide athletic prostheses for young people to lead active and fulfilling lives. The Feeney Family, parents Shawn and Jill and children Jack and Ryan, hosted a virtual fundraiser on Facebook, The Pot of Gold Fundraiser, where they auctioned items from March 7th through March 17th to lucky winners. Items included restaurant gift cards, household items, scratch tickets and more.
The Feeneys put on the fundraising event because their 10-year-old son Ryan was born with Neurofibromatosis 1 and Tibial Dysplasia. After a very difficult decision, they decided just before Ryan’s second birthday to have his leg amputated below the knee to give him a life with no limits. Ryan received a new running blade from The Born to Run Foundation last March 2020 and his new leg has advanced his agility and speed.
“We are extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with The Born To Run Foundation. The foundation’s founder, Noelle Lambert, has become a mentor to Ryan and a friend within the amputee community.,” said Jill Feeney.
The donation was presented to Noelle Lambert by Ryan Feeney on Wednesday, April 14th at the Manchester, NH West High School Track.
“Meeting Ryan and his family and being able to donate a running blade to him means everything to me,” said Noelle. “With his running blade, he is thriving and will know no limits as he continues to grow and participate in sports and other activities. It is such a joy to be around Ryan and see his progress.
The Born to Run Foundation was founded by Noelle Lambert, 23 of Manchester, NH, who lost her leg in a moped accident on Martha’s Vineyard in 2016. She is a former Division 1 college athlete who played lacrosse at the UMass Lowell and established the foundation to help amputees obtain specialized athletic prosthetic devices so that they can live fulfilling lives. Recently, Noelle was named the National “Women of Worth” honoree in the 2020 L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth recognition where she was chosen from thousands of nominations for the impact she and The Born to Run Foundation have made.
Noelle is a member of the U.S. Paralympic team and is currently training for the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo in the 100-meter race in Track and Field. On November 13, 2019, Noelle set a new U.S. record at the World Paralympic Championship games in Dubai running the 100-meter in 16.31 seconds.