For my bat mitzvah project, I am trying to raise $1500.00 for Limbs for Life, which will help one child receive a new prosthetic limb.  To do this fund raising effort, I am helping with sporting events sponsored by Limbs for Life: donating my babysitting money for the next 3 months; doing bake sales; and other fundraising efforts.  I hope you will donate to this effort and help a child in need to receive a new arm, leg, foot, or hand.

Why am I doing this?  Because I love soccer and sports, I wanted to help people that did not have the fortune I do of physical health and the ability to do everyday activities without thinking twice.

Through research, we found out about an organization called Kicking for Kids Who Can’t (http://kickingforkidswhocant.org/), which exists to help raise money for another organization called Limbs for Life ( http://www.limbsforlife.org/). Limbs for Life raises money for children and adults who need prosthetics either because they were born without a limb, or lost a limb due to accident or illness.  

Some facts we learned:

• 1.75 million people in the US are living without one or more limbs due to birth defects, accidents and illness
• Nearly 3,000 people lose a limb in the United States every week
• 75,000 people lose a limb to diabetes every year in the U.S., a problem that is worsened by lack of preventive health care among those who can not afford it.
• It costs nearly $500,000 in person funds for those with insurance coverage to enable a child to obtain the 25 artificial limbs through the course of their lifetime (due to growth, body changes and breakage.  Even with insurance, many people can not afford prosthetics.