UK Nurse, Alumna Running in Boston Marathon to Raise Money for 50 Legs
By Elizabeth Thompson
While handling anything from headaches to motor cycle accidents, Carson Swartz understands the importance of having a healthy way to relieve stress. “Running is my outlet,” Swartz said.
Swartz is a graduate of the UK College of Nursing and now works in the UK Emergency Department in the level one trauma center. An accomplished distance runner, she said the Boston Marathon is “every runners dream".
Swartz, along with a team of 20 other runners from across the country, is running to raise money for 50 Legs. 50 Legs is a non-profit organization that provides necessary care and prosthetic devices to people who lost limbs with the goal of adding positivity to the lives of amputees and removing hopelessness to allow children, adults and service members to lead active and productive lives.
“Prosthetic equipment, especially legs, costs a lot of money,” Swartz said. It can also be difficult for runners who are amputees because not all insurance plans cover the running blade, just the prosthetic leg. Costs can also add up for young runners as they grow because they need a different size prosthetic leg and running blade every two or three years. 50 Legs is an important charity because it “allows amputees to live a normal, healthy, positive life,” Swartz said.
“If I could bring normalcy back to one person who had lost a limb, I think it’s worth it to me,” Swartz said.
Swartz’s inspiration is a young runner named Katie Eddington, daughter of Swartz’s former clinical instructor Samantha Eddington. When Samantha Eddington reached out to Swartz about raising money, Swartz jumped at the opportunity.
“Being able to run for somebody and for a purpose is really special, for them to not be able to run and play breaks my heart because I know how active I was as a kid,” Swartz said.
Currently, Swartz and her team running the marathon have collected a total of $96,118 for 50 Legs.
For more information about 50 Legs, visit https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/2018-these-legs-get-legs-boston-marathon-team/carsonswartz?modified=1.
