Boston Bill Foundation created after a local man lost leg helping others to keep moving

ST. PETERSBURG - A story that recently aired on ESPN featured a man from St. Petersburg that many call, Boston Bill.

If you live in St. Petersburg, chances are you have probably seen Bill riding his bike or running. Even though he is over 70, he has no plans of slowing down.

"I've run the Boston Marathon about 13-14 times, I've been in about 50 marathons," Bill Hansbury said.  "Over the years, I've run thousands of road races from a 5k up to as far as 31, 32 miles."

Hansbury has always been an athlete.

"Generally, I'm doing something everyday, and I enjoy it, love it," Hansbury said.

However, a few years ago, he came to a fork in the road. A terrible infection meant amputation.

He could leave athletic accolades behind, or win some more.

"The best thing you can do is to claim your right again to get back into action and get going again," Hansbury said. "You have to do it, if you don't do it, you don't move."

Now Hansbury cannot stop moving. Every morning he heads out with his cycling buddies and in the afternoon, he likes to run.

"I use it (limb) the same way I always do," Hansbury said. "If I'm going to open a door, I'll push it open with my leg."

Bill does not call his limb a limb, he calls it his leg. However, it is an expensive leg.

"A leg like I'm wearing right now is about $6,000 or $7,000," Hansbury said. "A running leg is closer to $10,000 and those that have an above the knee amputation that wear a sea leg, can run anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000."

Many do not have that kind of money, which is why Hansbury started the Boston Bill Foundation.

"Money I raise with that has gone to provide limbs for people who do not have the money to do it," Hansbury said.

One of those people was just a small swim away over at the pier.

You may have seen Brian Evensen at his shop, Lost in Time.

During a dig for artifacts, Evensen had a bad fall. Then infection started to spread.

"They told me that they'd have to take it below the knee," Evensen said. "I was quite upset about it, but I didn't want to die either."

After surgery, Evensen got around in a wheelchair. Then someone shared Evensen's story with Boston Bill.

"Bill says if you're the kind of person that will get up and go, he said 'I'll get ya a leg,'" Evensen said.

The leg not only means Evensen can walk and swim, he can live the same life he lived before surgery.

"If I wasn't able to get it, I'd still be in that chair trying to figure out how to get back up and go again," Evensen said.

"When you see that, it's well worth it!," Hansbury said.

After his long rides and runs, Hansbury works on raising money so that people like Evensen can enjoy life.

It seems there is nothing Hansbury cannot do, and besides working on his foundation, he is also working on another athletic achievement.

Boston Bill wants to get back to Boston to run the Boston Marathon again. He will not be running the race for time, but rather, for himself.

"I'd like to see him win it," Evensen laughs. "I hope in my 70's I'm in the condition Bill is in, because that is an inspiration to everyone."

If you would like to donate to the Boston Bill Foundation, or see the story that aired on ESPN, you can find more information online by going to: www.bostonbill.org