Tempe Boy Scout raising money to get prosthetics for amputees in need
TEMPE, Ariz. - A Tempe Boy Scout is on a mission to help amputees get the tools they need to move again.
Being able to afford a prosthetic to walk is expensive, and it's even tougher for those living in developing countries. 12-year-old Leo Farnsworth, who attends Kyrene Middle School, learned about this and said he had to do something.
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Leo Farnsworth
As part of his Eagle Scout project, Leo is collecting prosthetic parts in the United States, with hopes to ship them off to developing countries.
As a way to raise awareness and money to do so, Leo is holding a hike at the Pima Wash Trail.
"Phase one is to raise awareness," said Leo.
Leo is raising money for the Range Of Motion Project (ROMP), a non-profit dedicated to providing prosthetic care to amputees in need.
"When I was in 6th grade, and towards the end of the year, my science teacher showed me this video of kids helping other kids without arms and legs and, like, 3D-printed stuff," said Leo.
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Ryan Butler (left) and Leo Farnsworth (right)
So, Leo now has a plan and has teamed up with Ryan Butler at Nextremity Prosthetic Design in Mesa.
"You take these connectors and you attach these parts, throw a connector on and attach this and put a socket on, and now, you can get someone walking, just like that," said Butler.
Butler says a lot of pieces that make up an entire prosthetic are mass-produced and used for trial fittings in an office. After that. they collect dust.
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Now, Butler and Leo plan to put those parts to use by building prosthetics for amputees in developing countries like Guatemala.
"It is cool," said Leo. "What I am doing can change some kid's life."
The two-mile hike Leo is hosting is set to take place at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November at the South Mountain.
Range of Motion Project fundraiser by Leo