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Heartland Endurance Sports, Students from Franklin High Schools Innovations class, Colton Darsts family and friends are uniting to host this chip-timed 5K/10K race to raise money for medical equipment and treatments Colton needs to gain his mobility.

About Colton

On September 20, 2012, Colton Darst was born. On this special day, they were expecting a beautiful healty baby girl. Unbeknownst to them until the delivery, our baby girl was a incredibly handsome baby boy. They were also blind-sided with the unexpected diagnosis that their newest child had severe medical issues. At birth, Colton was diagnosed with a massive double hernia, and a condition known as Arthrogryposis. This disease is characterized on the outside by severe contractures of the joints in the arms and legs. Colton had these severe contractures in his legs and in his wrists and thumbs. This condition also affects numerous organs throughout the body, and can have extremely negative effects on organs. Fortunately, Colton was blessed with only the external disabilities.

At 5 weeks old, Colton had his first surgery to repair his double hernia. He has also had 2 separate surgeries on his ankles, one of which was a major reconstruction of his feet, including bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Colton has also endured over 6 months of painful castings of his legs. These surgeries and castings will hopefully allow Colton to one day walk, which doctors feel is a 50-50 chance.

Along with the problems with his legs, Colton has no use of his arms. Since birth, Colton has not been able to move his arms. He has undergone numerous genetic tests, many of which cost thousands of dollars. These tests have determined that Colton has a genetic defect that prevent him from ever being able to use his arms. This defect makes his arms too heavy for his body to move. There is no cure for this defect. We have, however, found a ray of light in regards to his arms.

A doctor at Nemours Childrens Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware has developed an very innovative machine. This machine has been nicknamed magic arms. These magic arms are an external system of levers, pulleys, rubber bands that eliminate the effects of gravity of arms. These magic arms could possibly help Colton to gain some semblance of having normal arm movement. However, these magic arms are not cheap. They cost several thousand dollars. Along with the cost of the magic arms, there is also the added cost of having to travel to Delaware several times for several days at a time.

To date, medical bills for Colton have already topped $200,000. With at least a dozen more surgeries to go, these bills are only going to skyrocket. If Colton is able to go to Delaware, he will require new magic arms every year as he grows out of them. Our goal is for Colton to one day be able to walk unassisted, and to be able to use his arms, assisted or unassisted.

To do this, we need YOUR help. Help us to make his future bright and limitless.