Clearwater Girl Receives Legs, Support from 50 Legs Charity

Kylie Smith is living proof that the loss of a limb does not have to stop a kid from being a kid.

Kylie, 8, has been without a lower right leg since birth.

Not anymore.

The bubbly and very active Clearwater third grader was part of the 50 Legs charity golf tournament with her family last Saturday at Tarpon Woods Golf Club.

Kylie golfed, ran on the golf course, rode in a golf cart and horsed around with her buddy, Steve Chamberland, a former pro wrestler and amputee who founded 50 Legs.

Chamberland, who Kylie affectionately calls "Uncle Steve," bought a prosthetic leg for her after meeting Kylie and her family at Clearwater Beach. Chamberland found out that Kylie needed a new leg so she could go into the water. He made sure she had a new leg the following week.

"We couldn't personally afford to do that for her," said Kylie's mother Lisa Smith, about the prosthetic leg that the 50 Legs organization provided for her daughter.

But, Chamberland provided more than just a leg to Kylie. He also offered support to the family in the way of friendship.

"We're truly becoming a family," Smith said at Tarpon Woods Golf Club Saturday. "Steve came into our life and it hasn't been the same since."

Smith says her daughter is a very active kid who likes to swim, run and jump rope. Kylie also loves karate and is a recommended black belt in training for a junior black belt.

Kylie, who lives in Clearwater and attends McMullen Booth Elementary, will soon get another new prosthetic leg, courtesy of the 50 Legs charity. The new leg will allow her to be even more active.

"I'm looking forward to running," she said with a grin.

The April 27 fundraiser was a big success with about 95 golfers participating in the tournament and 120 people attending the event, which included a silent auction, according to 50 Legs board member John Thompson. 

"It was a great day and everybody had a wonderful time," he said.

Largo-based 50 Legs also is supplying prosthetics for Palm Harbor 2-year-old Ireland Nugent, whose ankles were severed in a lawn mower accident.

50 Legs is also helping some of the victims of the recent Boston bombings.

•  50 Legs on Facebook 
•  50 Legs Video
•  Lawn Mower Accident: Toddler's Final Surgery Called a Success
•  Outpouring of Support for Family of Toddler Run Over by Lawn Mower

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