Chalking it off the Bucket List: Woman Travelling Europe Records Locations by Scrawling on Prosthetic Leg

By Ben Wheeler

MEET the inspiring young woman who travelled around Europe whilst writing each of her famous destinations on her chalkboard-like prosthetic leg.

Devon Gallagher (23), a graduate from Philadelphia, one day had the epiphany of getting her most recent prosthetic covered in a chalkboard material while travelling Europe.

She has since been taking pictures across the continent, which show her cycling over the canal in Amsterdam and relaxing on a wall overlooking the city of Barcelona, all with the well-known locations scrawled on her leg.

Other images show her posing with a waffle in Brussels, taking in the spectacular Parthenon temple in Athens and enjoying a river cruise in Budapest.

“I get a new leg every two years and get to choose what design I have, one day I had a sudden thought to get a chalkboard,” said Devon.

“My mum and grandmother weren’t too keen on the idea, but my friends thought it was great and told me to go for it so I did.

“A lot of people have been staring when I’ve been writing on my leg and I don’t blame them, but once I’ve been taking the pictures I’ve had some really positive feedback.”

The chalkboard effect was created by coating her prosthetic leg in a special paint.

Devon endured a tough early few years after being beset by issues with her leg.

Despite this she doesn’t understand how people are surprised by her positive outlook.

“I was born with a congenital bone disease which created a ‘false joint’ in my right tibia, rendering my foot useless,” said Devon.

“Doctors tried to save my leg, but after several unsuccessful surgeries, they decided to amputate my foot when I was four to let me lead a normal life with a prosthetic.

“A lot of people don’t understand how I can be so happy in my situation.

“I guess I learned at a young age that life can suck and that it’s not fair at times.

“But you can still lead a happy and fulfilling life if you have the right attitude and choose to focus on the positives, you always have to put things in perspective, I consider myself very lucky.”