Matthew James an 14 y/o boy who was born without his left hand, has seen his wish came true after writing a letter to Ross Brown, Mercedes GP boss. Matthew had his eye on an i-Limb Pulse from Touch Bionics, a firm in Scotland. His family had raised some money, but they didn’t get no where near the £30,000 needed.
Matthew decided to ask Ross Brawn for help after the F1 boss visited Reading School. Matthew was invited for a tour round the Mercedes factory, while a member of the F1 team got in touch with Touch Bionics.
Touch Bionics and Mercedes GP agreed to share technology which is used in both the cars and the bionic arm. As part of the deal, the £25,000 fee to fit the hand and train Matthew to use it was waived. Mercedes is helping to fund-raise the rest.
Matthew said his old hand was "a simple open and close mechanism, like a claw" while the new one "has five individual motors in each finger and therefore each finger can move individually".
Matthew’s new arm was fitted on Friday(12/08/2011) and he is still getting used to it, but can already open jars and carry cups of tea, but he added: "Unfortunately there’s one downside to it, I’m having to do more chores, now."
Ross Brawn said: "Matthew’s letter to the team was very touching. Meeting Matthew, and hearing first hand how the new device would improve his quality of life, was a pleasure and I am delighted that our initial contact has now led to such a positive conclusion."
Source: BBC
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