A RACE FOR MOBILITY How Athletes for hope is Turning Sporting Success into Mobility Solutions
The organization champions the needs of children who, for one reason or the other, cannot walk independently. The organization seeks to bring hope to kids with mobility issues through a unique bonus- based system. Athletes for Hope Belgium implement their strategy through a special bonus-based system that sees young athletes compete in over four different sporting categories with an overachieving mentality in order to achieve good results. Whenever one of these athletes is successful on the field, the AFHB team scratches open one square on a scratch card to gradually reveal the picture underneath it. This process is then repeated over and over again until all squares have been scratched off. Consequently, the project then rewards the successes of these athletes by buying a walking robot for a kid with a spinal cord injury or muscle disease.
AFHB athletes have been coached by the organization from youth to ensure maximal achievement. These athletes are specially chosen and trained from the tender average age of 15, which the organization highlights as “the perfect age to start guiding and shaping young talented people.” This initiative is a testament to the organization’s mission of providing hope, support, and opportunities for disabled children to overcome their physical limitations and improve their quality of life. The concept of using robotics to assist individuals with disabilities is not new, but it is constantly evolving and improving. Robotic exoskeletons, in particular, have shown great promise in helping people with spinal cord injuries or muscle diseases regain
T he unfettering capability of hope can very scarcely be explained. Hope has a way of shining light into the darkest of areas and introducing newfound courage, resolve, and a reason to push on. Living in a world as arduous and uncompromising as ours, this hope, even if just a glimmer, is what many of us need to find the strength to go on. This notion rings true more so in the lives of individuals with various disabilities
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ATHLETES FOR HOPE BELGIUM, JON TYSON, CENTER-FOR-AGING-BETTER, RON LACH, RED JOHN, DANNY NEE WRITTEN BY JESSE ADUMA
and impairments, who may find it difficult to execute various everyday tasks. As such, they need our help and support to not get overtaken by life’s challenges but to keep striving for a well- rounded and fulfilled life. Recognizing this, the AFHB has kick- started an initiative to help bring hope to kids with mobility issues. Athletes for Hope Belgium (AFHB) is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children facing physical challenges. One of their most notable initiatives is their commitment to purchasing a walking robot for kids with spinal cord injuries or muscle diseases.
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