PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jerrica Thurman, Director, Communications, jerrica@amputee-coalition.org
(March 25, 2022, Washington, D.C.) The Amputee Coalition kicks off its annual celebration of the National Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLLDAM) one week from today. Started by the Amputee Coalition in 2010, LLLDAM takes place April 1-30 and raises awareness about the limb loss and limb difference community. This year’s theme is “Your Ordinary is Extraordinary.”
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. Limb loss affects people of all ages, income levels, and backgrounds. By approaching each day with the fundamental will power to thrive, amputees champion human strength by persisting. COVID-19 has exacerbated mental, physical, emotional, and social problems for all humans, and the need for connection and support has only increased within the limb loss and limb difference community. While these individuals experienced grave setbacks during this time, they still found ways to thrive. It may seem so ordinary as amputees go about their lives, but their ordinary is indeed extraordinary.
The Amputee Coalition is the only national nonprofit organization that serves all individuals who experience limb loss or limb difference and will host a robust lineup of activities throughout April to honor and elevate how its members thrive. As part of its national efforts to build a vibrant network of advocates, the organization will also present the virtual 2022 Advocacy Forum. The Forum activities will be offered as three, one-hour events that will address a new online lead advocacy training, grassroots advocacy program, and diabetes-related prevention.
“We are excited for the many partners who join us annually to increase awareness of our shared priorities to grow support for the limb loss and limb difference community and to enhance their access to affordable, high-value, and sustainable medical care,” said Mary Richards, president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition. “There are over 2.1 million people in the United States living with limb loss or limb difference. Another 28 million people in our country are at risk for amputation. We must continue our collective work to aid these Americans and make measurable progress every year.”
The complete lineup of LLLDAM activities is available on the Amputee Coalition website. Ways to get involve include:
- Share brand assets in the 2022 LLLDAM Communication Toolkit
- Become a 2022 LLLDAM Sponsor
- Join the #WeTHRIVE campaign to share your unique story
- Participate in 2022 LLLDAM Advocacy Forum
Join the LLLDAM conversation on Twitter using these hashtags: #LLAM, #LLLDAM, #WeTHRIVE, and #NoAmputeeAlone. View the 2022 LLLDAM infographic. Stay informed about the latest news and information on limb loss and limb difference by visiting the THRIVE blog.
For more information, contact communications@amputee-coalition.org.
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Amputee Coalition: The Leading Voice on Limb Loss and Limb Difference
The Amputee Coalition is the only national nonprofit that serves all individuals who experience limb loss or limb difference. We are dedicated to ensuring that no one faces limb loss alone. Our mission is to reach out and empower people affected by limb loss to achieve their full potential through support, education, advocacy, and prevention. We work to provide vital resources to people with limb loss and limb difference, as well as their families and caregivers. With these resources, they can recover, readjust, and live the life they most want to live. Learn more at www.amputee-coalition.org.