MAKERS FOR HEROES
01
Married + 3, 46 years old, bicycle coach, and mental coach. Studying for an M.A. in psychology. Former professional athlete.
Served in the Egoz Commando Unit and was injured in Lebanon from a side charge in 1996.
Moves around in a wheelchair since then.
The Challenge: To Shower Independently
As a wheelchair user, one of my challenges is that I currently need to have an attendant help me shower. I am looking for a solution for a seat and bench that will be adapted to the shower and enable me to shower on my own.
02
Yahel is 24 years old, and was injured while on active duty in the Israel Border Police in 2019.
She is an avid athlete, and particularly enjoys training in the martial arts, such as MMA, as well as yoga, meditation, and anything that enables her to be calmer and happier. She also loves to read, study, and broaden her horizons, including travel, to be in nature and above all the sea 🙂
The Challenge: To Be Able to Wear Any Type of Shoe
I suffer from severe pain in my knee as a result of the injury, which makes most shoes apart from sneakers very problematic. My dream is to be able to go back to wearing beautiful shoes, especially high heels, without suffering pain. To feel like everyone else and most importantly, to feel comfortable walking in any shoe without thinking every time before leaving the house about how much it will hurt.
03
Nitai is 24 years old, from Shoham.
On his way to his first military reserves duty, he was involved in a car accident, as a result of which he lost his leg and now wears a prosthesis. Nitai has always loved cars, off-road and extreme. Today he is in rehabilitation and plan to fly to Australia in 2024.
The Challenge: An Accessible Car Kit for Independent Travel
In preparation for the trip to Australia, where I hope to get around by car, the challenge is how to manage the various elements relating to the prosthesis, such as climbing into a tent on the roof of the car, electric charging of the prosthesis, and more. My dream is to come up with a set of solutions that will enable me to be independent and have a meaningful, fun, and inspiring experience, without having to give up on any of what I want to do because of the special challenges that my injury brings with it.
04
62 years old, father of 3 daughters and grandfather of 4 grandchildren. Has a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence. Inventor and researcher with 13 patents.
Suffers from pain due to neurological problems resulting from immersion in the severely contaminated Kishon river during IDF training exercises. Nissim experiences severe pain in the feet and hands. Despite this, he is an avid archer, which is a source of physical and mental rehabilitation. He has won five medals in the field, despite, he says, his age and disability. In addition, Nissim also likes to draw.
The Challenge: Stable Grips for the Bow in Archery
Unfortunately, my pain levels have increased, and it has now become a challenge to shoot the bow. There are several problems: An archer holds the bow at the “grip”. A standard grip is narrow and causes pressure and pain in the palm of my hand. Holding the bow in the air during any practice or competition causes severe pain in my left hand. A standard horizontal stabilizer operates a lever with a barbell on the left hand that worsens the pain.In addition, as a result of numbness in my feet, I wobble while standing at the firing line. I am looking for solutions to these problems in order to continue training and competing in a sport that I love.
05
Vered is 51 years old and lives in Givatayim.
She was injured over 18 years ago while serving in Israel’s security apparatus and also studying for a graduate degree in general history at Tel Aviv University. As a result of the injury, she developed CRPS (severe chronic pain syndrome). Today only one hand is functional. In addition, secondary medical problems have developed that are being treated at Sheba Hospital. Vered is single and very close to her family and friends, included those she has met at Beit HaLochem. She loves to draw and is currently studying with a painter. Vered also loves reading, cinema, and music.
The Challenge: To Draw
Given that I have only one functioning hand, I am looking for a complete and accessible drawing kit that will enable me to draw independently despite the limitation.
06
Tzachi is 47 years old, married to Hagit and the father of two children.
He was injured 27 years ago, while serving in the Israel Border Patrol Unit. As a result, he developed CRP (severe chronic pain) syndrome that requires him to get around using the assistance of a wheelchair and crutches. In recent years he has been walking with the help of the I-Walk 2.0 device
Tsachi is a positive and active person who loves life, loves sports, including climbing and Paralympic basketball.
He says: “I am grateful for every day that I get up in the morning even though each and every day is a war in itself, this is the challenge I received from the Creator, I must face it despite everything.”
The Challenge: Walking Correctly
My dream is to be able to walk with a straight leg and not in a “question mark” shape like today. I want to feel like any normal person, when your hands are free and you can walk without too much pain.
07
Tal is 27 years old and lives in Petach Tikva.
He has been an athlete all his life and has always dedicated a lot of time to sports of all kinds. During his army service in the Tank Corps elite 401st commando unit, he fought in Operation Tzuk Eitan. As a result of his service, He began to suffer from chronic pain syndrome which affected his legs from the knees down. Today he plays wheelchair basketball at Beit HaLochem Tel Aviv, and is trying to build a life for himself despite the limitations and pain.
The Challenge: To Lift Weights from the Floor
I would like to be able to lift a weight from the floor without bending over. I love to exercise and live an independent life, but the injury makes it difficult for me to do all kinds of activities. In the gym, for example, I can’t bend stably to lift weights. I also can’t do tasks at home such as laundry. I am looking for a mobile solution that he can use both at home and at the gym that will enable me to train like everyone else, in a stable and safe way.
08
Shalev is 22 years old and lives in Rosh Pina.
From a young age, he was an avid soccer player and loved to run, work out in the gym and generally live an active, athletic life. Shalev was injured in Operation Shomer Chomot. While patrolling along the Gaza the vehicle he was in suffered a direct hit from an anti-tank missile. Shalev’s left leg was amputated below the knee, his right hand does not function and suffered a severe injury to his left hand, which doctors are still in the slow and painful process of attempting to reconstruct.
The Challenge: Returning to the Gym:
I dream of going back to training in the gym but as a result of my injuries there are so many things that I can’t do, because of the limitation on my range of motion and movement, mainly in the hand. I am looking for solutions that will enable me to train and get stronger like everyone else.
09
Moti is married and the father of one child. He loves sports and traveling and enjoys the quiet.
After serving for 10 years in the Israel Border Police unit, he was injured several times in riots during the Second Intifada. He suffers from post-trauma and a non-functioning right leg. Today he uses a wheelchair and crutches. He loves to play tennis.
The Challenge: Improved Wrapping Process for the Hand
I love to play tennis, but suffer from multiple injuries to my hands, so in every practice I wrap it in strong grip tape in order to create a complete separation between the hand and the wheels of the chair. The wrapping process is very cumbersome and takes a lot of time. I’ve tried other solutions, such as gloves, but the protection they provide is not effective enough, and only the tape works. I am looking for a solution that will enable the wrapping operation to be carried out more quickly and efficiently.
10
Yoram is 54 years old and lives in Tel Aviv with his wife Limor and their children Jonathan and Yuli.
Joining the army in 1987, he was recruited into the Armored Corps, and was injured in March 1988 during the First Intifada, while serving in Judea and Samaria. He went on to have a distinguished 30-year career in the Ministry of Defense, as well as reaching the rank of major in the military reserves. Yoram suffered an injury to his right ankle, and underwent numerous reconstructive surgeries that still cause him pain. He also suffers from PTSD and a host of related co-morbidities. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation through therapy and horseback riding.
The Challenge: Pain Free Horseback Riding
As a result of my leg injury, I suffer from significant pain while riding. I am looking for a solution of cranks with clamping that will help reduce pain and enable me to continue to pursue this sport which I love and which provides me with a sense of peace and satisfaction.
11
Originally from Eilat, 23-year-old Yishai now lives in Tel Aviv. He was injured during a shooting incident while on active duty in Jenin, which left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Yishai loves to surf and participate in extreme sports. He is currently studying music at Rimon.
The Challenge: A Wheelchair for the Shower that is Accessible and Portable
I am looking for an accessible and portable bathing chair. Due to mobility issues with a chair and the many transitions, there is currently no solution for bathing and washing with a wheelchair that is both portable and comfortable for me, like, for example, for use on airplanes. I am looking for a solution that will be convenient and easy to use.
12
Elad is 39 years old and lives in Ptolemy Yehiel. He is married to Adi and the father of three sons: Peleg, Eitan and Barry. Elad was injured In 2003, when terrorists infiltrated the base at Bekaot. In recent years he has increasingly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and Rita, an incredible service dog who has been with him 24/7 for the past six months, helps.
The Challenge: A “Smart Collar” for a Service Dog
Having a service dog is a gift, but also comes with its own challenges. Most pressing for me is the fact that I can’t be outside with Rita without holding on to her leash, and am constantly stressed that I will lose hold of it, and her. I therefore do not feel safe going for a run or a walk without a leash. I would like a solution that will enable me to be outside with Rita without the need to hold the leash regularly.
13
Dror is 40 years old, and married to Hila with whom he has a 7-month-old baby. While serving in the Combat Engineering unit during the Second Lebanon War he suffered a gunshot wound to the head while on active duty near Bint Jebel.As a result of his injury he spent three years in the hospital and now gets around on a wheelchair. He is considered 100 percent disabled and spends the majority of his time focusing on the rehabilitation of his body and mind.
The Challenge: Getting In and Out of a Car
I am quite tall, which makes getting in and out of a car quite a challenge. I am looking for a solution that would enable me to do so more easily. In addition, if the solution can also help me get up and down from the chair to the floor, I will be able to play with my son.
14
Roi is 26 years old, and lives in Ramat Gan. A musician, creator, writer, and composer, he is also a committed athlete, and has always engaged in sports, from Thai boxing to running marathons. When he enlisted in the army, he chose to serve in combat engineering. During training he suffered a complete knee dislocation leading to a powerful fall that also crushed his femur. Roy underwent surgery during which they removed the worn cartilage and drilled into the bone in order to enable the fractured pieces to heal. In addition, Roi also suffered nerve damage, which now prevents him from being able to control his leg and stand in a stable manner. Today he is working very hard in order to walk again and control his leg.
The Challenge: To Stand on Stage
After discovering that the world of music gives him much more than just emotional stability, I decided to focus on music as a career, and have delved into both writing and performing. I play several instruments and would like to combine them all in my performances. I currently have difficulty moving in a safe way on stage and need to use a crutch to stabilize myself. I would like a solution that will enable me to move about on stage without using my hands for support.
15
Daniel is 31 years old and lives in Tel Aviv. He is in a relationship with Ayelet, has just completed an M.A. in rehabilitation psychology and is about to being his internship in the field. Daniel loves sports, particularly football (soccer), and cooking. He was serving in the Maglen commando unit when he was injured as a result of an explosion in a tunnel in Khan Yunis during Operation Tzuk Eitan, that left him with severe injuries legs and right hand.
The Challenge: To Cook with Less Pain
As a result of the pain, it is often difficult to stand for a long time while I cook, forcing me to take numerous rest breaks. It is also hard for me to bend down to put things in the oven, or lift heavy pots and so on. I am Iooking for a solution that will enable me to cook independently and comfortably.
16
Hirot Zoertz, CPO, 38 years old from Ashkelon. I like to travel and to spend time with my family. I was injured during my military service in 2003, as a result of which I underwent three surgeries and had a long period of rehabilitation. I currently manage a community for CRPS patients and am always looking to help the rehabilitated in whatever way possible.
Amit Shmuel, 26 years old, lives in Tel Aviv. I own a number of businesses in the field of importing, manufacturing, and marketing gifts and gadgets and am a student at the Rishon LeZion College of Management, where I am pursuing a degree in business administration. I also lecture in Israel and around the world, have competed in an Iron Man competition and work with young people to promote their sense of self-fulfillment and personal development.
In 2014, while serving in the Givati infantry unit, I participated in an operation to arrest a wanted fugitive, during which I fell off a cliff and crushed my leg. I have been suffering from CRPS ever since.
Yuval Shoshan, 26 years old from Netanya. I was injured in my right leg during my military service in the Kafir unit, 90th battalion while on a brigade-level training exercise in the Jordan Valley. Following the injury, my right ankle joint was damaged and I developed a chronic nerve injury known as CRPS. Today I gets around with crutches and am still working on my rehabilitation. I have a B.A. in sports therapy from Ono Academic College and currently work as the head sports therapist of the youth department at the Beitar Tobruk Netanya soccer team.
Liran Levy, 38, lives in Even Yehuda.
Married to Maayan and the father of 3 children: Lenny, Atay and Bar.
I love extreme sports, and everything that raises my adrenaline. I was injured while on a training exercise during my military service in 2004, during which both my legs were crushed. Today, as a result of CRPS, I only have the use of my left leg.
Koral Feller, 30 years old, lives with her mother in Petah Tikva.
I injured my ankle and right foot in the combined basic training + training course of the Education Corps and as a result of medical negligence, I now suffer from CRPS. I hold three degrees and a certificate in characterizing user experience, and focus as much as possible on both my mental and physical rehabilitation.
Today I am a Tik Toker and blogger who works to raise awareness of transparent disabilities and chronic pain, and want to ensure that no one feels as alone and unseen as I did 12 and a half years ago.
The Challenge:
CRPS is a pain syndrome that affects the limbs and is characterized by intense pain unusual in relation to the injury that caused it. It results in acute sensitivity, with even minimal contact resulting in acute pain, which ordinary pain relievers are unable to alleviate.
The challenge
is to create for Hirot, Amit, Liran, Yuval and the other CRPS sufferers a digital tool to manage and help prevent pain, and share research-based knowledge on how to deal with the syndrome and build a better quality of life.
17
Coral is 24 years old, and lives in Ashkelon. She was injured during her military service in the Search and Rescue Brigade as a result of a blood clot that blocked her main artery. She now moves around in a wheelchair and has partial vision loss. Before the injury Coral loved driving her car, riding horses, and going out with friends, and swimming in the ocean.
The Challenge: An Adapted and Accessible Keyboard
As a result of my injury, I lost part of my vision and have difficulty working with my hands, particularly the right hand. Although I have a computer for the visually impaired, I am struggling to use the current keyboard. I am looking for a solution to make the keyboard more accessible and convenient to use, so that I will be able to enjoy using a computer like everyone else.
18
Moshe is 43 years old and lives in Jerusalem with his wife Tova and their four children. A lover of the Land of Israel and of Hebrew music, as well as of swimming, Moshe was injured by a bomb in 2007 while on active duty in Nablus. As a result of his injury he suffers from CRPS in his left leg, which manifests itself in intense chronic pain.
The Challenge: To Increase the Number of His Daily Steps
I would like a solution that will help me deal with the pain of walking and enable me to continue to function and walk more than 200-300 meters. My goal is to find some kind of solution like a protector that will dampen shocks in the ankle and allow for prolonged activity on a daily basis.
19
Mittal, 46 years old, lives in Rehovot and is married and the mother of 3 children. A chemical engineer, she was working in her profession in a technological unit of the IDF. During her service she suffered an injury that limits the functioning of her left side, and experiences chronic pain. A lover of art, she now studies art therapy . She also loves the sea and to travel and be out and about in nature, although this has become challenging as a result of her injury.
The Challenge: To Hike with my Son
I love to be outside and hike with my young son, but find walking on the beach or on bike paths extremely difficult. I am looking for a mobility solution that will enable me to do so independently, safely, and for an extended period of time. “Over the years it’s been something that was talked about and was missing for him and for me.”
20
Niv is 30 years old and lives in Tel Aviv with his wife and newborn son. During Operation Tzuk Eitan, Niv, who was a team commander, suffered gunshot wounds to his hand and chest, and as a result of these injuries lost the use of his left hand.
The Challenge: An Accessible Sony Remote
Sony makes several accessible remotes but these still don’t offer a solution to the limitations of my left hand. I am looking for a solution for the remote that will enable me to play easily, particularly to the left-hand joystick and the buttons on the back of the device.
21
Saleh is 40 years old, and married to Sabrin and the father of two daughters. An athlete from a young age, he especially loved to play basketball. Saleh was injured in 2005 in a battle with terrorists at the Karni terminal on the Gaza border. Four bullets penetrated his body, crushing his left foot, damaging his thigh and ricocheting into his pelvis and abdominal cavity. The main injury is to his left leg and pelvis. As a result of these injuries Salah suffers from a deformity of his left hip joint and considerable limitation of his range of motion. Today he plays wheelchair basketball in the Premier League and has been rowing for three years in training for the paralympics at the Daniel Rowing Center.
The Challenge: Adjustable Rowing Seat
As a result of the damage to my pelvis, I have difficulty producing a full range of motion while rowing. I am looking for a solution that will enable me to adjust the seat in the boat so that I can row in an ideal way and tap into my true potential in competitive rowing in Israel and around the world, and perhaps even make it to the Paris Olympics in 2024.
