Bionic legs

$3,775 of $3,400 goal
Given by 24 generous donors in 6 weeks

I never thought I would ski again ☹️; however, the fantastic NZ Olympic team has spurred me on. Help me realise my dream with Givealittle

Canterbury

Five years of rehabilitation have given me an understanding of where I am and where I can go. Unfortunately, it is not far enough. The problem is neurological degeneration in my hips. Two years ago, I could not walk; now I can shuffle with a walker. In the words of Monty Python’s Black Beard The Pirate, "shuffle shuffle crawl crawl".

Steve Austin: Million Dollar Man: Astronaut, a man barely alive. Roland Matthews: Free Radical. A man on a mission. Whanua and friends, we can rebuild me. We have the technology. We can create the world's first highly reactive, short-lived, multiple-valency, impaired atom. I will be that atom. Better than I was before.

“Better... stronger... faster".

The solution is Bionic legs. Steve A. and I go way back; I've seen every episode. He was a man barely alive, they had the technology, and they rebuilt him, better... stronger... faster. I am alive, but the workshop is struggling; the tools are blunt. My solution is a Hyper Shell exoskeleton. I won't be jumping buildings in a single bound, fly at incredible speeds and move faster than the eye can see, and I won't protect Earth from threats, ranging from cosmic villains to everyday dangers. But I might go for a walk with you.

WATCH THE VIDEOS and, one morning this week, put your second 'cafe coffee' towards my campaign (they are never as good as the first one).

With Givealittle, we have the capability to make the world's atomic Roland Matthews walk again.

Use of funds

All funds raised will go towards purchasing the Hypershell exoskeleton, which is designed to assist with everyday movement — such as walking, hiking, or running — by supporting leg mobility and reducing fatigue.

Read more

Latest update

Who went walking with who?  12 April 2026

I went for a walk yesterday with Hypershell, or should I say Hypershell took me for a walk. It was harder than learning to drive a car. Eventually, I managed to get the shell cooperating. My right leg does the Can-Can, my left, weaker leg is not so forthcoming with dancing moves. It gets off the ground which is a fantastic improvement. In comparison, without the shell it was like I had Neodymium magnets in my shoes, tenaciously binding me to the core of the earth. What! safety first, is not unusual in my mind, but I used my Walker. I walked for about an hour in circles around my living room, and built up a sweat.

What surprised me was the atrophy in my left leg. As a consequence of my knee being dislocated in 1998, and neurodegeneration as a consequence of MS, it hyper-extends easily, so I favour it. The good news is that my knee is not doing that with the Shell.

I didn't venture out into Great Hoani Street, Papanui, Wild, where ambulances and police cars roam, on yesterday's blissful Canterbury day. That's for another day, which probably won't be today😬

So where to from here. To the treadmill at the gym. It's not very exciting, even when the video monitor shows you beautiful walking tracks, which I might walk if I knew where they were.

After getting used to the Hypershell and gym work, I will start using the hiking sticks I bought to keep the Shell company.

Thank you all my donors, you made my day/week/year 👍👍

Share this update

Read 10 more updates

Read more
2% Effective Fee
On average, fundraisers pay just 2% to use Givealittle. This is one of the lowest effective fees in New Zealand fundraising. We charge a 5% platform fee to cover the cost of running the platform. Because most donors choose to top up their donation to cover this fee, the effective cost paid by fundraisers is about 2%. That means around 98 cents of every dollar raised goes to the cause. Learn More

Latest donations

Sam
Sam on 14 Mar 2026
$50
Roland Matthews

Hi Sam, thank you for your donation, and I'll see you next week for the big event. I was hoping to walk in, but, unfortunately, the USA is a long way away when travelling by road. I'll bring my walker so I won't scuff the walls with my scooter.

Roland Matthews
Guest Donor
Guest Donor on 11 Mar 2026
$250
Roland Matthews

Thank you, mystery guest, 2SLGBTQIA donor, who asked me to open my page so they could donate.

Roland Matthews
Steve. J.
Steve. J. on 05 Mar 2026
$80
Roland Matthews

Hi Steve, it is a lovely sunny day in Otutahi, and you made it sunnier. Thanks for your donation. I'll place the order tonight and post a video shortly after I have test-piloted the shell, hopefully with better results than Steve A 😃 with no crashing and burning for me 🫰(I have done that before, and survived, so I am feeling +ve with no FreeRadicals orbiting).

Roland Matthews
Kate
Kate on 25 Feb 2026
$75
Roland Matthews

Hi Kate, Thanks for your donation. I am asking GAL for the donations today, and make the purchase. ASAP. I wont be running at 60 MPH, but I adjusted the speed limter on my trike to 99 kph, that is close enough. xo R

Roland Matthews
Gregory
Gregory on 24 Feb 2026
Private
Roland Matthews

Yeha, thanks Greg, have been in contact with Hypershell and I'm planning to order the shell this week 😀😀😀

Roland Matthews

Who's involved?

Roland Matthews's avatar
Created by, and paying to a verified bank account of, Roland Matthews
Page Moderated
The page has been checked by our team to make sure it complies with our terms and conditions.

Any concerns?

Report this page
This campaign started on 4 Feb 2026 and ended on 20 Mar 2026.