The Amputee Coalition announces the inaugural 2024 National Athlete Advocate Ambassador Campaign. The 2024 campaign seeks to enhance the Amputee Coalition community voice through targeted messaging collaboratively shared in unison focused on the limb loss and/or limb difference community.
The collaborative campaign is spearheaded by Gulf War Army Veteran, four-time track and field All-American, two-time Olympic trials qualifier, and long-time Amputee Coalition supporter, advocate, and current Board Member John Register. The campaign is in partnership with the Amputee Coalition and the National Athlete Advocate Ambassadors platforms throughout 2024 centered on disability rights, inclusion, and equity for the collective community. The campaign rollout starts with the first two featured athletes Jovan Booker and Gary Weiland who also joined as speakers and were youth engagement program (YEP) youth camp favorites at the 2023 National Conference.
Jovan Booker was named 2022 Sports Person of the Year by the Suffolk Times, is a starter for the U.S. National Amputee Soccer Team and a competitor in the Turkey World Cup. Jovan is the Captain of the New York Metro Amputee Soccer Club. He has scored multiple goals over 30+ international caps and is a leader in advocating for disability sports access, equity, and inclusion both on and off the pitch.
After losing his leg in 2018, firefighter Gary Weiland did the impossible and went back to work. Since his surgery, he has become an author, motivational speaker, amputee, Ninja Warrior, and a member of multiple USA Para teams, including becoming the 2023 U.S. Para Bobsled Push Division National Champion.
The Amputee Coalition and the inaugural 2024 National Athlete Advocate Ambassadors are uniting together to collectively elevate messages throughout 2024 of inclusion and equity to raise awareness. We know more than 5.6 million people are living with limb loss and/or limb difference. We also know every day, more than 500 people in the U.S. lose a limb and it is estimated that by 2050, the number of people living with limb loss will nearly double.
“This campaign and the work we commit to daily in aligning collective voices dedicated to equity is a movement worth championing for all generations in the limb loss and/or limb difference community. This is another opportunity for raising more awareness but also creating representation and advocacy. This is a movement making change and aligns with the Amputee Coalition’s mission to support, educate, and advocate for people impacted by limb loss and/or limb difference.” Cass Isidro, President and Chief Executive Officer
You can follow the campaign and athletes on their social media platforms and all Amputee Coalition platforms to hear from the 2024 Advocate Ambassadors and how they will utilize their platforms in 2024 to come alongside the Amputee Coalition to reach millions of people impacted by limb loss and/or limb difference. You can also engage with all things Amputee Coalition via www.amputee-coalition.org.