A BARNSLEY dad who builds 3D-printed limbs for children has just adapted push bikes for four children who are missing an arm.
Adam Dengel, 30, of Galway Close, Royston, has bought and adapted bikes for children who are missing a limb making them more stable and safer for them to ride.
He bought a bike for his son, Tommy, four, and another four to surprise other children with.
Adam bought the bikes from Halfords and has adapted them himself by changing the braking system and adding an ergonomic ‘cup’ on one side of the handle bars allowing the rider more stability.
Little extras have also been added to the bike like stabilisers, and a helmet will be given with each bike.
“It’s just another thing we’re trying to do to help children,” he said.
“Children without an arm struggle to ride a bike because they have to lean on the handlebar and it isn’t very comfortable so we designed a cup so they can sit upright.
“Both of the brakes are wired into one lever so now you can use both brakes at the same time to make it safer.”
The adaptations have been made using Adam’s 3D printer. His garage has now been converted into a workshop which he also uses to make limbs for children.
When Adam and his partner, Katie, found out that Tommy would be born without a right forearm due to a condition called amniotic band syndrome a rare condition where stray bands of tissue wrap around the limbs and cut off blood flow they decided to look for help and support. Upon finding that the information they were given was lacking, the pair decided to search further.
They found a foundation in the USA called Lucky Fin, and this was the company that made their son his first arm and was also the inspiration for their own venture, the LimbBo Foundation.
The LimbBo Foundation is a registered charity which designs, creates and delivers 3D printed arms to children who need them, free of charge.
The arms are customised for each child and different themes are added like Wonder Woman, Paw Patrol, Batman, Spiderman, Thomas the Tank Engine, Captain America and many more.
For Christmas, Adam and Katie bought and adapted a drum kit for Tommy so that he could play the drums.
The adaptation allows him to hold two sticks at the same time like every other drummer using his ‘extra hand’.
