Philippine Limb Donation Effort Growing

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A campaign to donate reconditioned artificial limbs to the Philippines is growing.

Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics of Gettysburg, Pa., is announcing an expansion of the program Tuesday in Washington. The company now aims to collect $2.5 million worth of limbs. That's up from an earlier goal of $750,000.

Ability says the world's largest maker of prosthetic limbs, Otto Bock HealthCare of Germany, is joining the effort.

The nonprofit organization Physicians for Peace is delivering the limbs to the Philippines.

The giveaway was originally planned to promote a film documentary, "Rescue in the Philippines," produced by Frederick-based 3 Roads Communication. The movie tells the story of 1,300 Jews who fled Nazi Germany for the Philippines.

Organizers say the recent typhoon in the Philippines added urgency to the appeal.

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