David Hiler, of Brattleboro, VT, lost his left leg above the knee in January 2020 due to a malignant sarcoma isolated to his knee. He made the decision to amputate, which he says was the best solution for him if he wanted to continue to live an active and athletic life. David is the co-founder of Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery.
David’s story was inspiring, and in November 2020, I had the opportunity to present him with a running blade at the outdoor waterfront Bier Garten at Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery in Brattleboro, VT. David said that when he made the decision to have his leg amputated, not being able to run was a big issue for him. He also said receiving the running blade from The Born To Run Foundation and being able to get back on the road running again was crucial for him.
As the co-founder of Whetstone Brewery, David wanted to find a way to give back to the amputee community. He came up with the idea to have the Brewery create a special craft beer to support The Born To Run Foundation. The new “RUN” brew is a Blood Orange Gose: a tart, thirst-quenching ale made with sea salt and coriander, blended with the refreshing juice of blood oranges to make for a low ABV craft beer that can be crushed after a long run.
David’s running blade was made by Next Step Bionics & Prosthetics, Inc. This is The Born To Run Foundation’s 10th donation.