CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A young firefighter who lost part of his leg to cancer will now get to be active on the force once more.
- Since May, Jacob Poteat of Rutherfordton has dealt with a leg amputation and seven months of chemotherapy because of osteosarcoma.
- Poteat is the first grant recipient from The Move For Jenn Foundation.
- Running blades can range anywhere in price between $5,000 and $10,000, and insurance rarely covers it.
Since May, Jacob Poteat of Rutherfordton has dealt with a leg amputation and seven months of chemotherapy because of osteosarcoma. The Move For Jenn Foundation surprised Poteat with a running blade Thursday. Founder Jenn Andrews had her foot amputated due to sarcoma earlier in the year, too. Poteat is the first grant recipient.
"With a regular foot you can run you can swim you can do all sorts of things. With prosthetics it's different," explained Andrews. "Not everything is waterproof, not every foot has the same spring. So in order to really get out and be active, you need a blade. It’ll give you that roll to push off like a normal blade would."
Running blades can range anywhere in price between $5,000 and $10,000, and insurance rarely covers it. Poteat said this will come in handy while he’s on the job.
"[I] have to climb stuff, have to crawl. I have to do all kinds of stuff. I think that will give me a way bigger advantage than I've got," Poteat remarked.
Andrews' non-profit offers grants for both prosthetics and research.