Amputees to Show Off Stand-Up Basketball Skills at Long Island, NY Charity Basketball Game

IRVINE, Calif., March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AMP 1, a team of stand-up (not wheelchair) amputee basketball players will challenge an able-bodied team at a Long Island, NY charity basketball game at 7pm on Friday March 25th. The AMP 1 team will demonstrate how, with the help of modern high-tech prosthetics, sheer determination, and their love of the sport, they have overcome lower limb amputations caused by traumatic accidents, congenital complications and cancer.

AMP 1 will visit Mattituck High School to play against its varsity basketball team which hopes to claim victory following the school's loss to AMP 1 in 2010.  Ticket proceeds ($5 each) will benefit the MCTA Scholarship Fund.

Scott Odom, co-founder of AMP 1 and an amputee since age 14 will make several presentations to local students in the days leading up to the games.  Supporting the message in his book Stand Up: I Lost My Leg to Cancer, Not My Dream, Odom seeks to inspire others to put adversity behind them and follow their dreams to overcome whatever challenges they may face in life.

Odom and his AMP 1 teammates all wear the Renegade prosthetic foot, designed by Freedom Innovations especially for highly active amputees.  It features carbon-fiber Z-Shock Technology, which provides the shock absorption that is critical for high impact activities such as basketball.  One of the players also utilizes the Plie 2.0 MPC Knee, which combines cutting-edge microprocessor and hydraulic technologies to facilitate the responsive movements and stability required in the sport.  Long Island Orthotics & Prosthetics' Marc Werner is providing prosthetic care to the team.

Following AMP 1's visit to Long Island, the team will be making appearances in Detroit, Washington D.C., Kansas City and Los Angeles during their 2011 National Tour.

About AMP1 Basketball

Founded by two amputees who connected via FaceBook and YouTube while seeking other amputees to play competitive stand-up basketball, AMP 1 has now evolved into a league of athletes and the only organized stand-up amputee basketball team.  In its games and motivational presentations, AMP 1 members demonstrate that all you need is courage, motivation, determination and heart to follow your dreams. Anything is possible! Learn more at http://www.amp1basketball.com/

About Freedom Innovations

Freedom Innovations engineers, manufactures, and markets advanced technology prosthetic devices that provide people with physical challenges the ability to reach their full potential.  Based in Irvine, CA, Freedom's lower-limb prosthetics are distributed in 39 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.freedom-innovations.com.

About P.L.A.Y. Foundation

P.L.A.Y. (Positive Living for Active Youth) was developed by an amputee to allow the dreams and desires of other amputees to come true. We are a financial resource to allow growth in the arts, education and sports. Learn more at www.playfoundation.net

SOURCE Freedom Innovations