Why am I starting this fundraiser?

Like most of my classmates during Year 10, I did two weeks of Work Experience, one of which was with Open Bionics, a prosthetics company which (to quote them) "is developing affordable and open-source 3D printed bionic hands."

I'd been interested in prosthetics and other advances in medical science for several years, and I'd mentioned this to my Work Experience Coordinator. I'd never really expected to get a placement like this, but here it was.

At Open Bionics, I was given an actual design task to aid the development of a prosthetic hand. It wasn't anything major, but it was legitimate rather than inconsequential. I was actually, however indirectly, helping someone who needed a prosthetic hand - and, as cliché as it may sound, that felt very good indeed.

I was working with a Lulzbot Mini 3D printer (using Autodesk Fusion for designs and Cura to operate the device) which I was absolutely fascinated by. I used it to rapidly prototype design ideas, and found it remarkably effective: being a technology-loving person, I also found it incredibly cool.

One of the main things I took away from the placement was the realisation that these new technologies have the potential to revolutionise people's lives. Open Bionics has already done amazing work with their hands, and are taking steps towards making prosthetics far more available.

I want to become part of the development of solutions like this - things that weren't possible before. With your help, this 3D printer will allow me to gain real-world experience and become part of this exciting future.

The printer costs £1126.41 - I am currently saving £10 a week from my paper round, £75 from my birthday, and any money I receive for Christmas towards purchasing the 3D printer by the New Year.