Sean Fitzgibbon enjoying his hobbies.

Sean Fitzgibbon

Sean Fitzgibbon has a secret identity. When not on the water, is that of an Orthotic Fitter at St. Pete Limb and Brace. This background puts him a foot ahead of other people in his field. Sean was born with a birth defect, which caused his right leg not to form properly. At 3 years old, Sean underwent a right below the knee amputation, which would eventually allow him to walk properly with a prosthetic foot.

On land, he has competed against non-amputees at Inline Speed Skating competitions and proven to be faster than any rabbit in roller skates. In the water, he has competed in numerous Surfing competitions across the country.

He is a man obsessed with water. Consequently, Sean has made it a mission in his life to spend as much free time introducing water to land lovers, teaching surfing and kayaking, and taking people on a memorial three hour tour on the Florida waters.

Sean has surfed professionally for eight years. He is the four time consecutive and four time East Coast Surfer Champion, a four time consecutive National Champion and has been awarded the Buddy Pelletier Surfer of the Year award. He now surfs in the Legends Professional surfing competitions against non-amputees. Surfing has taken him throughout the USA and to Hawaii. It was in Hawaii that Sean Fitzgibbons professional surfer friends baptized him with a new name. The name given to him by those friends is Topa Honu. The name means sea turtle and truly embodies his love of the water.

Now he spends most of his time either working at St. Petersburg Limb & Brace or guiding and instructing people in the world of Kayaking. He anually takes expedition kayaking trips of 5 days or more, all over the country.

Boston Bill and Michael R. Rieth, LPO, FAAOP

“Boston Bill” Hansbury

There is no such word as “No” for Boston Bill. Bill Hansbury lost his right leg below the knee after a MRSA related infection. He was fit with an immediate post-op prosthesis, and three weeks later while still in the cast, started biking on a recumbent bike.

Within eight weeks of his amputation, Bill was fit with a definitive prosthesis. At this point, he was biking more than he was walking. After wearing his new prosthesis for approximately six months, he then was fitted for a running leg with the goal of competing in some local running events. Shortly thereafter, Bill ran the Gasparilla Classic, a 5K run in Tampa, FL.

Bill has been quite the celebrity in 2009, appearing in the St. Petersburg Times, Baynews 9, Channel 10 news and most recently People Magazine (see homepage for video clips and articles). He goes above and beyond the call, talking to recent amputees and lifting their spirit. He truly has been an inspiration to the disabled community in the Tampa Bay area, and continues to be active with speaking engagements and appearances. He is currently working on a foundation (appropriately named, “The Boston Bill Foundation”) to raise money to help fund prosthetic devices for those in need.

In October of 2009, Bill participated in the Half Ironman Triathlon in San Diego California, riding the 56 mile bike course. He also rode the bike leg of the Madiera Beach Triathlon, and several trail runs in the Boston area, totaling 10 miles in rocky and hilly terrain.