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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently issued a proclamation declaring April as Limb Loss Awareness Month in the state of Tennessee. Engineering Vol Riley Toll, sophomore in biomedical engineering, helped spark this gubernatorial action.

“At the beginning of February, I received an email from the Amputee Coalition asking for help to proclaim April as Limb Loss Awareness Month in the state of Tennessee,” said Toll. “The Amputee Coalition is a great organization that empowers people affected by limb loss and limb difference.”

Toll has long contributed to limb-difference awareness and action. In 2017, she helped design and create her own 3D-printed prosthetic hand, along with her colleagues in the UT Makers Club. She was also spotlighted among other UT makers in the recent issue of Tennessee Alumnus. The club contributes to the Enable Community Foundation, which matches patients who need prosthetic limbs with groups that have access to 3D printers.

“After receiving this email, I went online to the Office of the Governor’s Proclamation Request page and filled out a form,” she said. “Thanks to the Amputee Coalition and others that filled out this form, April is now officially recognized as Limb Loss Awareness Month.”

Toll received a copy of the Governor’s proclamation in the mail.

“This is a great response demonstrating that when you speak up for what you believe in, anything can be accomplished,” she said.