1,000 individuals set to attend Lucky Fin Project Weekend!
18th July 2024
18th July 2024
The biggest event in the US calendar year is almost upon us. Lucky Fin Project Weekend is back this year from the 26-28th July, and it’s one not to be missed. This celebration of limb differences will highlight the importance of community, resilience, and the power of innovative technology.
Held in Detroit, Michigan, this year three children will be receiving custom Hero Arms in the style of superheroes at the annual event due to be attended by over 1,000 people from the limb different community.
The three families from Illinois, New York, and Michigan joined forces to fundraise, receiving major donations from the Lucky Fin Project and the Open Bionics Foundation, to cover the costs of clinical care, and the custom-fitted tech.
The Hero Arms, which are 3D printed, offer the children advanced functionality. All three children got to choose what their bionic arms will look like and chose popular Disney characters; Iron Man, Black Panther, and Spider-Woman.
From holding bake sales, seeking local business support, and getting regional news to cover their stories, the three children raised the $22k needed for their Hero Arms in under a month!
‘Very active’ Josiah Clark, 10 from Buffalo, New York wanted a Hero Arm to be able to ride his bike with more confidence. “Josiah has worn previous prosthetic solutions but found them to be too heavy which meant he couldn’t wear them for long periods of time. He is very excited to get his Hero Arm” shared his mum Annissa Brown.
“There’s no stopping Skyliana, the sky’s the limit, but she wanted the Hero Arm to make two-handed activities a bit easier, like carrying books and a bag, or grip small objects with both hands,” said Terissa Clausen from Illinois.
Adventurous Keegan Kozicki, 8 years old from Michigan wanted a Hero Arm to fuel his independence; “he gets frustrated when he can’t do the small things, so with the Hero Arm he wants to pursue his passion for cooking, arts and crafts, and getting dressed,” said his mum Erica Kozicki.
Daniel Green, an Upper Limb Prosthetist at the Open Bionics clinic in New York has been working closely with the three families to ensure the custom Hero Arms are optimized for each child’s needs “It has been awesome working with all three families and to see the excitement that comes with having the ability to choose your favorite bionic arm design, and watch as the kids move their new bionic fingers,” commented Daniel who will be delivering the Hero Arms at the Lucky Fin event.
The custom 3D printed Hero Arm fits like a comfortable glove for daily wear. Inside the arm there are two sensors that read muscle movements, these are then amplified and converted into intuitive and proportional bionic hand movements.
“We are thrilled to partner with Open Bionics Foundation to make a Hero Arm a reality for these recipients,” said Molly Stapelman, Founder and Executive Director of the Lucky Fin Project.
We’re really looking forward to seeing how these three get on with their new arms. A prosthesis at a young age can really help prevent overreaching and loading on one side, support healthy spine and muscle development, and make two-handed tasks easier.
Being born with a limb difference there are lots of tasks that these kiddos have already found their own way to achieve, however we know the Hero Arm can be a big help for complex tasks and we can’t wait to see how these children take them on!
Not only will the Hero Arm become their new helper hand, it will become a tool for their own self expression, and an opportunity for them to communicate what it means to them to wear a bionic limb and embrace what makes them unique. It’s a great tool for building confidence in their body and mind.
If you are looking for a bionic hand, Open Bionics is encouraging individuals to register their interest. Open Bionics works with insurance companies and charities to fund devices for people in need. You can register here.
Request information on how to book your free demo at your local clinic.