Unused prosthetic legs to be collected in Northampton for life-changing charity appeal
Northampton will be one of the stops on a nationwide charity tour collecting unwanted prosthetic leg components to help amputees in sub-Saharan Africa walk again.
Charity STAND – We Walk Together will visit prosthetic clinics across the UK between August 3 and 6 as part of its Legs on Tour 2026 campaign.
The aim is to collect used prosthetic leg components that would otherwise be discarded before refurbishing and sending them to clinics in sub-Saharan Africa, where the charity says up to 95 per cent of amputees have no access to a prosthetic leg.
STAND says the lack of mobility can prevent people from working, attending school and living independently, trapping many in poverty.
As well as collecting components, the charity is appealing to the public to help raise £20,000 to fund the nationwide tour and the refurbishment and distribution of the prosthetic legs. The first £2,000 donated will be matched by prosthetics manufacturer Blatchford.
Since it was founded 12 years ago, STAND says it has helped thousands of amputees across sub-Saharan Africa regain their mobility.
Tom Williams OBE, founder of STAND, said: "Up to 95 per cent of amputees in low-income countries don't have access to prosthetic legs. Whilst in the UK, perfectly good legs are thrown away.
"Legs on Tour is our chance to close that gap. Every donation brings us closer to giving someone back their independence."
Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE, who is supporting the campaign, said the tour would help give people "the chance to move freely" and described the charity's work as "life changing".
The charity hopes the tour, including its stop in Northampton, will see tonnes of prosthetic components collected before being refurbished and shipped overseas.