Redefining Beauty - Reclaiming Identity. Tina Godfrey Hurley, founder of the nonprofit “Less Leg More Heart.”
By Rick Bontkowski
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the emotional battles often hidden behind physical ones. Few embody that intersection more powerfully than Tina Godfrey Hurley, a former Division 1 athlete, board-certified physician associate, amputee, and founder of the nonprofit Less Leg More Heart.
Tina’s life shifted dramatically after she was diagnosed with Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome, a rare condition that eventually led to the amputation of her leg. What followed wasn’t just physical healing, but a mental and emotional unraveling.
She’s described it as “intervention-level depression,” brought on not only by pain and loss but by the sudden collapse of her personal and professional identity.
But from the depths of that struggle, Tina found her purpose. She created Less Leg More Heart to fill a void she personally experienced, offering holistic support for people facing limb loss, with a strong emphasis on mental health. The organization’s programs don’t just provide mobility resources; they connect people with peer mentorship, counseling, and advocacy that speak to the soul, not just the socket.
Tina’s story and insights were also featured in an unforgettable episode of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, where she dives deeper into her personal transformation and the emotional complexities of recovery.
Her work has helped countless individuals move from isolation to empowerment. She even successfully lobbied to have April recognized as Limb Loss Awareness Month in her home state, a reminder of how deeply her advocacy is rooted in service.
In Tina’s words, “Losing my leg wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened to me. Losing my identity was. And building a new one saved my life.”
Learn more at lesslegmoreheart.com and listen at ampup211.com.
Rick Bontkowski, a Chicago native and amputee, is the host creator of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast. A drummer, cyclist, and advocate, Rick shares the stories of people with limb differences to inspire, inform, and challenge perceptions worldwide. Contact info: Ampup211@gmail.com, ampup211.com, youtube.com/@theampdup211podcast6, instagram.com/rick_bontkowski.
