To ride a bicycle again

Riding bicycles for most children is as easy as learning their ABCs.

However, on May 12, 2008, an earthquake in Sichuan changed the lives of many people, including a group of young students who suffered leg amputations as a result of their injuries.

Those children are rediscovering the joys of riding a bicycle, thanks to a unique bicycle training program led by the group Stand TALL.

The Hong Kong-based charity is providing state-of-the-art prostheses and medical rehabilitation services for individuals with limb amputations and other medical needs.

Ossur, the Iceland-based leader in orthopedic products, partnered with Stand TALL to provide high-end prosthetic devices and rehabilitation services to patients with lower limb amputations as a result of the Sichuan earthquake.

About 15 children from various parts of Sichuan recently participated in Stand TALL's Amputee Bicycle Campaign, learning how to ride bicycles.

"We are proud to be a part of this humanitarian effort initiated by Stand TALL. Our mission is to bring back mobility to people's lives," Arni Alvar Arason, president of Ossur Asia, said.

"Through Ossur's products and expertise, we aim to provide superior clinical outcomes to many of these young and inspirational earthquake survivors," Arason said.

Chan Kai-Ming, a professor of orthopedics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and founder of Stand TALL, said the majority of earthquake amputees are young children and teenagers.

Riding bicycles allows the amputees to regain mobility and their independence, helping them reintegrate into society, Chan said.

Yu Chui-Yee, a gold medal winner for wheelchair fencing at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, was named ambassador of Stand TALL.

Yu, who hosted the bicycle event, shared her story with the young students.

Yu's left leg was amputated when she was 11 years old. After rehabilitation, her love of fencing led her to excel in the sport, winning medals and accolades.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs estimated that about 7,000 people were disabled due to last May's devastating earthquake.

Stand TALL was founded in Hong Kong after the Sichuan earthquake, and has since fitted more than 150 amputees with upper and lower limb prosthetics. The majority of those amputees were children.

The organization now is leading efforts to establish the Sichuan-Hong Kong Rehabilitation Center in Chengdu.

Stand TALL wants to train 1,000 local medical professionals in three years to work at the center.

Ossur recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Stand TALL to become the preferred supplier of lower limb prosthetic components such as Iceross silicone liners, Total Knee knees and Flex-Foot prosthetic feet.

For the bicycle event, the company donated 25 bicycles and accessories, including helmets and safeguards.

Ossur also will provide technical support to Stand TALL in training local rehabilitation staff at the Sichuan-Hong Kong Rehabilitation Center, as well as cooperate on joint projects to help build greater awareness of the Stand TALL cause.

"Our partnership with Stand TALL is a long-term relationship," Arason said.

(China Daily 08/17/2009 page8)