Taylor Hosey Receives Surprise Grants at Pajamas All Day 5K
(Photo Credit: Taylor Hosey)
On December 9, 2023, The Move For Jenn Foundation held our 5th annual Pajamas All Day 5K/10K. This annual event provides our community with the opportunity to run so that collectively, we can make it possible for someone else to run who had that freedom taken away due to sarcoma. Jenn said it best upon learning about her own personal amputation in 2018 by bringing people together to #MoveBecauseWeCan.
(Photo Credit: Taylor Hosey)
One of the main pillars of MFJ is to offer grants in the form of activewear prosthetics, as many amputees may not have the financial ability to return to an active lifestyle, they once knew due to the cost of these specialty prosthetics that are not deemed medically necessary, therefore insurance does not cover the costs. We enjoyed hosting many former grant recipients on-site at this year’s race, but we had the absolute pleasure of having 2023 grant recipient, Taylor Hosey, at the race to receive two surprise grants. On January 11, 2023, Taylor received a life-changing phone call that the bump on her heel was Ewing’s Sarcoma. She was told she needed to begin 14 rounds of in-patient chemotherapy immediately. Just weeks after her diagnosis, she graduated with her BSN from Mount Carmel College of Nursing. In April, she underwent a below-the-knee amputation to remove her primary tumor. While Taylor focuses on her health, she is continuing to pursue her career in nursing and her master's in nursing with a primary focus on oncology. In addition to focusing on her health and school, she is working towards her goal of returning to her active lifestyle of running, hiking, and exercising.
(Photo Credit: Jordan G Photography)
As a grant recipient, Taylor received the Fillauer All Pro prosthetic earlier this year, but with thanks to a $10,000 grant from 24 Foundation, The Move For Jenn Foundation was able to gift Taylor with two more deserving surprises. Taylor has a goal of training and running the Boston Marathon, so MFJ and 24 Foundation gifted Taylor with a Fillauer Running Blade so that she has the best tools to accomplish her dreams of movement again.
(Photo Credit: Jordan G Photography)
In addition to receiving the running blade, we had the honor of giving her the ability to start to take her femininity back from the cancer that stole it. This summer, Taylor shared on social media about her experience that so many women have also suffered from when receiving a cancer diagnosis -- Learning to rediscover confidence and love themselves again after losing their hair due to treatment and/or the ability to wear high heels due to a leg amputation. Taylor’s videos touched Jenn personally as she immediately related to the feeling of no longer being able to wear high heels, especially as a woman who loves to dress up. In addition to the Fillauer Running Blade, we gifted Taylor with a second prosthetic, Össur Heel High Adjustable, so that she has the opportunity to wear up to 3-inch-high heels again. She recently changed to her Össur foot and shared her experience on her TikTok.
(Photo Credit: Taylor Hosey's Fiance, Andrew Ray)
--
To read the original blog post about Taylor, check out Blog: Meet Move For Jenn Grant Recipient, Taylor Hosey
To learn more about Taylor’s story, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.