Somerville resident Garrett Tingle Jr. and his father are running the Boston Marathon for the Heather Abbott Foundation.

Heather was affected by the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and unfortunately had to have one of her legs amputated as a result after many surgeries to try and save it. Heather launched HAF to help other amputees and has an 11-person running team (Team Limb-it Less) ready to run and raise funds to provide protheses for those in need.

The Heather Abbott Foundation (HAF), whose mission is to provide custom prostheses for limb loss victims of traumatic circumstances, announces its 11-person running team training for the 2022 Boston Marathon.

Team Limb-it-less members include three runners from Massachusetts – Todd Foy (Brighton), Garrett Tingle, Jr. (Somerville) and Garrett Tingle, Sr. (Cambridge), as well as Jessica Averbuch (Nashville, TN), Sarah Buckley (Hampstead, NH), Candice Burroughs (Harrisville, RI), Amy Dowe (Tucson, AZ), Watson McBride III (Sandy Springs, SC), Laurie Rice (Franklin, TN) Lina Saliba (McLean, VA) and Jonathan Strongsmith (Charlottesville, VA).

“It was hard to choose from the dozens of applications we received who from all over the country, all passionately wanting to support our cause by running the marathon on our behalf,” said Heather Abbott, founder of the Heather Abbott Foundation. “After the challenges Covid presented these last two years, we are counting down the days to returning to Boylston Street on Patriots Day to cheer on our team, as they cross the finish line. The Team has done a fantastic job to raise much-needed funds for amputees in need of custom protheses.”  

The Heather Abbott Foundation will host its annual Boston Marathon Watch Party on Monday, April 18, 2022 at Rochambeau at 900 Boylston Street from 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For tickets and more information, please visit www.HAF2020.EventBrite.com.

Among the prosthesis grants that the Heather Abbott Foundation running team assisted in providing includes 15-year old Lydia Stalaboin of Wakefield, Rhode Island. Lydia was born with a rare congenital vascular disorder. The pain in her leg was so severe, she made the difficult decision to amputate it at age 11. Now a high school sophomore, Lydia has continued to pursue and participate in gymnastics and volleyball, refusing to let limb loss limit her activity. Lydia’s mom enjoys running, which Lydia has always wanted to try. By providing her with a prothesis specially designed for running, HAF is helping Lydia reach her goal to run alongside her mom. “I’m giving running a try so I can push harder and overcome my fears, and I want to show that to other people,” said Lydia.

About Heather Abbott Foundation:
The Heather Abbott Foundation (HAF) provides customized prostheses to those who suffered limb loss through traumatic circumstances. Launched in December 2014, with the help of others who support HAF’s mission, Heather formed the Foundation as her commitment to “pay if forward” after thousands of people donated funds and resources to those injured during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. For Heather, that generosity made it possible for her to have multiple prostheses. One allows her to wear high heels – something that proved key to Heather’s emotional healing, and others allow her to do activities like running and paddle boarding. Many amputees are forced to give up parts of their lives they enjoyed prior to their amputation due to the tremendous cost associated with prostheses for which insurance companies won’t typically cover (e.g. athletic or cosmetic prostheses as well as those that incorporate advance technology like microprocessor parts). The Heather Abbott Foundation’s mission is to assist amputees in living the lives they want by providing grants for those prostheses. For more information, please visit www.heatherabbottfoundation.org and follow on Instagram and Facebook.