As part of the annual awareness campaign organized by The War Amps, 14-year-old Éléonore Pilon from Saint-Polycarpe has set herself a major challenge.

The teenager wants to raise public awareness, especially among young people, of the need for caution at all times, but especially around lawnmowers and lawn tractors.

Born with a congenital malformation of her right leg, Éléonore Pilon has always worn a prosthesis.

"I was born with one leg shorter than the other. Since I was a little girl, I've had about ten prostheses. I can do everything that people do with two legs, but it definitely requires a little more effort," she confided to Néomédia.

Raising awareness in every way

Although her amputation was not the result of an accident, Éléonore Pilon is determined to get her message across and encourage young people to be cautious. 

"I have friends to whom this has happened. In a way, I'm doing it for them. That's why I think it's important to get the message across to young people. Stay as far away as possible from equipment like lawnmowers or tractors," continues the teenager."Accidents happen so quickly."

Every year, dozens of children join The Champ program, of The War Amps organisation, following an accident involving a lawnmower or tractor. The vast majority, if not all, of these accidents could easily have been avoided.

According to The War Amps website, lawn tractor accidents involving children generally occur as follows:

• The child falls off the lawn tractor on which he or she was sitting with an adult;
• The child is hit by the tractor because the person driving it didn't see him/her;
• The child falls and slips under the tractor's blades;
• The child is hit by debris;
• The child mows the lawn himself when he is too young to do so.

To find out more about The Champ program and The War Amps: www.amputesdeguerre.ca.