Amy Purdy Biography

Amy Purdy wears many hats. She is a licensed massage therapist, esthetician and makeup artist. She also is a top professional motivational speaker, sharing her story at conferences and events across the globe. Amy is the co-founder of Adaptive Action Sports an organization she founded with her partner Daniel Gale that is an instrumental part of getting adaptive skateboarding, snowboarding into ESPN X Games and snowboarding into the 2014 Paralympic Games. She is a spokesperson for many companies and organizations including Element Skateboards, she is a model, actress and one of the top adaptive snowboarders in the world, currently training for the 2014 Paralympic Games. Amy is also a double leg amputee.

At the age of 19, after experiencing flu-like symptoms for about 24 hours, she was rushed to the hospital in a state of septic shock. En route to the hospital, Amy experienced respiratory and multiple organ failure. These factors, combined with a blood condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), in which the blood becomes extremely thin and creates microscopic blood clots, caused Amy to lose circulation to her feet, hands, nose, ears and kidneys, and caused her lungs and adrenal glands to hemorrhage. Miraculously, her heart and brain were unaffected. After 26 pints of blood and removal of her ruptured spleen, doctors diagnosed Amy with Bacterial Meningitis. Following this, Amy was in a coma for close to three weeks, and doctors gave her less than a two-percent chance of survival. Due to the lack of circulation she had suffered at the beginning of her ordeal, doctors had to amputate her legs below the knee. Her other extremities regained their circulation and escaped amputation.

Almost two years later Amy participated in Nevada's first Laparoscopic Kidney Transplant surgery receiving a kidney from her father. She was the first person in Las Vegas in more than 20 years to contract Neisseria meningitis and survive. After going through this life-altering trauma, Amy challenged herself to move on with her life and not only regain some sense of normalcy, but also attain goals that even people who have both legs struggle to achieve. In 2002 Amy received a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), which allowed her to travel to various snowboarding competitions in the US. Just weeks after her kidney transplant, Amy entered the USASA national snowboarding competition, where she won medals in three events.

In 2003 Amy spent most of her time in California which opened several doors for her in the modeling and acting industry. February of that year Amy played a runway model in a music video for Madonna, who reportedly took a personal interest in Amy, coaching her through her video role and commenting on her amazing spirit. Adding to her challenges and accomplishments in May of 2004 Amy landed the lead female role in the independent film "What's Bugging Seth."

Amy was featured on The Entertainment Tonight Insider, which focused on her acting and modeling career. After the Insider aired, Amy was contacted by the National Meningitis Association asking her to come on board as a spokesperson for the organization.

Amy's most significant accomplish to date is in the creation and development of the action sport athletic organization, Adaptive Action Sports. In 2005 Amy and her partner Daniel Gale founded the non-profit organization to help adaptive athletes get involved with action sports, art and music. Amy and Daniel realized the lack of resources and support for athletes like herself who related to X-Games style sports rather than Olympic-style sports. Outside of being a three-time world cup gold medalist, Amy helps organize advanced adaptive freestyle camps and help AAS develop skate and snowboard camps for youth, young adults and wounded veterans. As of 2011, Amy is top ranked in the world for Adaptive Snowboarding and is working hard with Adaptive Action Sports and other organizations to get snowboarding into the Paralympics! Amy has played a significant role in the action sport movement within the disabled community and plans to continue challenging herself with her athletic and artistic passions while helping others do the same.

As a renowned expert and highly sought-after speaker, Amy Purdy's expertise is in high demand. To book Amy Purdy for your next event, conference, or workshop, please contact our speaker booking agency. Our experienced team will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and help secure Amy Purdy's participation. With our professional guidance and seamless booking process, you can ensure a memorable and impactful experience for your audience. Don't miss the opportunity to engage your audience with Amy Purdy's compelling insights and inspire positive change within your organization. Fill out the booking request form to take the first step in securing Amy Purdy for your next speaking engagement.