Expert calls for funding for running blades to continue
A prosthesist has warned that taking away Government funding for running blades will be "disabling" for children who receive them.
The government set aside £1.5m for carbon fibre blades after the Rio Paralympics.
Dozens of children have received them but they do not last more than two years and there is no guarantee the money will continue beyond March 2018.
Andy Sharpe from the Birmingham Rehabilitation Centre, who is responsible for fitting the blades for a number of children in the West Midlands has been collecting evidence about their effectiveness.
He has timed children running with the blades, and with their normal prosthetics in a bid to ensure the funding will continue.
He said: "If (the funding) stops then instead of being an enablement, we are going to start disabling these kiddies because if you've got to take them off that's going to be an absolutely terrible thing to do."
Macey Hand, from Claverly, was the first child outside of London to get a carbon fibre running blade, thanks to the funding.
Seven-year-old Macey said her new blade is “springy” to run on and much lighter than her other prosthetic leg. It helps the sporty youngster, a member of Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club, to take part in the activities she enjoys.
Macey was born with fibular hemimelia, where part or all of the fibular bone is missing Before her first birthday, she underwent a symes amputation, done through the ankle joint.
Her mother, Julie, 45, said: "She’s had the blade since January and it is much lighter, it makes running easier, she can use it when she does sports.”
All of Macey’s prosthetics are custom made. A cast is taken of her leg, with the prosthetic formed around it – the same with her blade.
Macey said: “I love cross country. The blade is a bit springy, it is easier to run on and a bit lighter. It is really comfy.”
