community corner
Amputee Will Walk 140 Miles for LGBTQ Youth Nov. 8-16
Dr. Mark Sweatman, an amputee who lost his leg in 2010, will lead a 140-mile walk around and through Midtown from Nov. 8 to Nov. 16.
By Justin Ove, Patch Staff
By Mimi Schroeder
Dr. Mark Sweatman, an amputee who lost his leg in 2010, will lead a 140-mile walk around and through Atlanta from Saturday, Nov. 8 to Sunday, Nov. 16 to raise funds and awareness for Lost-n-Found Youth. Mark will post during the walk to www.wmarksweatman.org where all the maps are included, and welcome volunteers who want to walk with him.
According to LNFY Executive Director, Rick Westbrook, "While we lay sleeping tonight there are more than 750 LGBTQ youth on the streets of Atlanta that need help. Most have been kicked out of their homes by their parents. These kids are more at risk of sexual abuse, drug abuse, and suicide. We are honored to have Mark champion our cause; our young people need a hero to look up to and make their way through adversity." See www.LNFY.org.
Mark lost his left leg to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) four years ago. He suffered a simple broken foot that led to RSD, a painful and debilitating neurological condition that resulted in amputation below the knee. One of Mark's recovery goals was to complete a 5K walk, but he became inspired to test his limits and to help others. This led to the Inspirational Walk and the establishment of the W. Mark Sweatman Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit focused on inspiring, helping, and serving society by promoting positive humanitarian change.
"I learned through my troubled times and on the brink of suicide, that I needed a glimmer of hope to survive," said Dr. Sweatman. "I am very passionate about helping others and this includes drawing attention and awareness to the homeless crisis among LGBTQ youth in Atlanta and the reason for "The Long Walk Home." Please support me and our efforts until we all have a place to call home."
The loss of Mark's leg was just one of a string of losses that wreaked havoc on his life in the span of just a few years. Mark has written about his journey from despair to hope in Amputated Yet Whole: How Adversity Made Me Complete, a memoir which resonates with anyone who has suffered a loss. It is a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit and an inspiring work by a young man who has triumphed over life's challenges.
Information about Mark, the walk, and his book is available atwww.wmarksweatman.organd www.amputatedyetwhole.com. In addition to training for the walk, Mark earned his Ph.D. in Sociology, conducts research at the Shepherd Center, and teaches at Georgia Gwinnett College.
