Blake's Robotic Arm

Watch Blake's YouTube playlist by selecting the YouTube icon on the right hand side of your screen or scroll down to bottom of screen for mobile phone.

Blake is 19 years old and lives in Upper Hutt. He suffers from cerebral palsy and mild autism.

Blake currently goes to school and hopes to complete NCEA then go to university and

become a music specialist so that he can help other disabled people.

The reason we wish to raise funds for Blake is he has been given the opportunity to have a

robotic arm made for him by Otago Polytechnic. With the aid of this robotic arm, Blake will be able to feed himself, wash his face and to have more autonomy in his daily life.

Otago Polytechnic is going to create and attach the robotic arm to his wheelchair, but to make this happen we have to raise upwards of $10,000.

The below is an extract from a letter written by one of Blake's teachers.

"Blake Forbes Gentle is a young man with many passions. He is really into music, sport, cooking and

making his own podcasts. He views his voice as his main skill and will use this any way he can to

help him get through his days. Because of his cerebral palsy Blake finds it difficult to manage his

movements to help him engage in everyday activities. He relies on a powered wheelchair to get

himself around the community and home. Blake is really keen to play his own music and also

manage podcasting and controlling his social media. Due to challenges around motor coordination

Blake finds it difficult to manage his tablet and computer to easily do these things. He also struggles

with feeding himself and is reliant on others to help him manage his daily needs. A bionic arm would

allow Blake to access many more things in the world and give him increased autonomy over his life.

He would be better able to manage his social and physical needs."