Bilateral Amputee and Former Bhs Athlete

FOR RELEASE Contact: Haden Edwards May 8, 2015 (603) 661-4705 Email: [email protected]

EVENT: May 8, 2015 at 3:30 p.m., D.G. Weaver Athletic Complex, Burlington High School

BILATERAL AMPUTEE AND FORMER BHS ATHLETE SETS SIGHTS ON THE ROAD TO RIO

Burlington, Vermont, May 8, 2015: Former Burlington High School athlete, University of New Hampshire football captain, and bi-lateral amputee, Muji Karim will be visiting Burlington High School on May 8 to speak to students and the community about Running to Rio for the World Parlympic Games.

Karim has been battling back from a horrific car accident which led to leg amputations three and a half years ago. He spontaneously attended a Paralympic track and field clinic in Louisville, Kentucky this past January to see where he measured up against other athletes. His physical conditioning, eagerness to learn, and natural athletic ability caught the eyes of coaches in attendance. Receiving his “Running Prostheses” less than six months ago, Karim now throws distances and runs times that could qualify him as an emerging US Parlympic Athlete.

“It’s great to be going fast again” said the former Burlington High School star and captain of the University of New Hampshire football team. “He’s fast!” said Matt Albuquerque, president and owner of Next Step Bionics & Prosthetics and Karim’s lead sponsor. Next Step began fitting Karim’s prosthetic devices over a year ago. “Muji started improving quickly and one day he said that he wanted to run. We fit him with custom running legs and he started working very hard. Once he became accustomed to the devices, his times started dropping like a rock. It was at that point we knew that Muji was Running to Rio and the Paralympic Games. The phrase stuck and Muji has dedicated himself to that goal,” Albuquerque said.

As remarkable as his potential is, he will need help. First, he needs to qualify at a sanctioned event. The first one he will be attending will be held in Mesa, Arizona, after which he will move on to the US Nationals. A CrowdRise account has been set up to help with travel, lodging and miscellaneous expenses. “This is a remarkable young man who has demonstrated tremendous courage. He has the heart of a champion. I have no doubt that if he is afforded the opportunities to compete, he will win” Abuquerque said. To donate go to: https://www.crowdrise.com/MujiKarimRunningToRio/fundraiser/mujikarim.

Muji Karin went to Burlington High School in Vermont, the University of New Hampshire in Durham, and now lives in Massachusetts. Because of the high interest in Muji’s amazing story, Next Step and Burlington High School will be hosting a talk to members of the press and student athletes on May 8, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. at the High School’s athletic field to launch Muji’s Run To Rio. All are welcome.