"Behind the Scenes"
Sir Drake the Brave
A Note from the Author
For my son,
Justin Jordan-Lake,
who inspired this story as a little boy
with his own kindness and courage
and for Kenbe Rogers and all those
whose big hearts, hope and strength
make them unstoppable.
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The Inspiration
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The inspiration behind "Sir Drake The Brave' came from my own son Justin and his toddler nighttime fears and as the story evolved, later also from my dear friend Elizabeth's son (adopted from Haiti) who uses a prosthetic leg.
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She commented once that there were so few picture books for kids who are differently-abled and even fewer in which that child is the hero of the story--with the prosthetic just subtly there but not the point of the story.
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So, my mind started mulling...
About the Author
Joy Jordan-Lake
Joy Jordan-Lake is the author of the picture book A Crazy-Much Love, as well as several nonfiction titles and two bestselling historical novels, Under a Gilded Moon and A Tangled Mercy. Her first novel, Blue Hole Back Home, won a 2009 Christy Award and was selected as the Common Book at several universities. She and her husband have three young adult children. She is currently at work on her next novel. www.joyjordanlake.com
About the Illustrator
Susan Eaddy
Susan Eaddy writes picture books and plays with clay in her attic studio. Her clay-illustrated books include Papa Fish’s Lullaby by Patricia Hubbell and My Love for You Is the Sun by Julie Hedlund; her clay artwork appears regularly in Babybug, Ladybug, Click, and Spider magazines. She is the author of Poppy’s Best Paper and Poppy’s Best Babies, both illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet, and Eenie Meenie Halloweenie, illustrated by Lucy Fleming. www.susaneaddy.com
View the Video Link below for the Behind the Scenes process of the illustrations:
A portion of the proceeds from both
author and illustrator will go to help children in need of prosthetics
About Amputee
Blade Runners
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We are a Non-Profit organization that helps provide free running prosthetics for amputees.
Health insurance companies have declared running prosthetics as “not medically necessary” and do not cover their cost. Our organization helps amputees keep an active lifestyle by providing this vital equipment free of charge.
Our goal is to provide a running prosthesis to one athlete in all 50 states. We currently have athletes in 31 states who serve as ambassadors to other amputees. Please view our map and if you, or someone you know, is an active amputee and lives in a state in need of an ABR ambassador please contact us for more information or complete our grant application.
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Our Story
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Amputee Blade Runners was founded by two prosthetists, with the idea that giving someone one piece of equipment could change their life. That's exactly what happened to our co-founder, Ryan Fann, when a local prosthetic company gave Ryan his first running leg after high school. Ryan excelled in sports throughout middle school and high school, but when he was fitted for his first running leg, the world opened up. He went on to run track at Tennessee State University and even earned a GOLD Medal in the Paralympics. This is why Aaron and Ryan founded Amputee Blade Runners in 2011.
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About Jordan Thomas Foundation
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Helping kids get the prostheses they
need to lead healthy and active lives.
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The Jordan Thomas Foundation doesn't just give hope that there's life after limb loss. Our very existence proves that there is.
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The Jordan Thomas Foundation returns children and adolescents to a life without physical limitation by providing quality prostheses until adulthood, serving as a caring resource for the child and family living with limb differences and tirelessly advocating for insurance fairness.
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Our Mission is Personal
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In 2005 Jordan Thomas lost both his legs below the knee in a boating accident. While in the hospital, he realized how many other kids there were like him, yet so many of them did not have access to the prostheses they needed to live active, healthy lives. Although just 16 years old at the time, Jordan committed to help all kids in need and the Jordan Thomas Foundation was born. Since that day, Jordan has embraced his circumstances and committed his life to helping kids!
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As an organization founded by someone directly affected by traumatic limb loss as a child, we are uniquely positioned and intimately aware of the challenges faced by children and families living with limb loss and limb differences. Nothing was going to stop Jordan from being all he knew he could be, and nothing is going to stop him from assuring every other child has that same opportunity.
Videos
You don't have to be limited by your disabilities.