by Barbara Sofer March 14, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/y6rd3saq
What
are those starry-eyed religious newlyweds doing on the stage of the 2019
OurCrowd Global Investor Summit – Israel’s largest hi-tech gathering? Isn’t
technology about cybersecurity, digital FinTech, cloud mobility?
The
truth is that both Adir and Liat Grainer Siman Tov from Hod Hasharon might have
attended the summit anyway. With 18,000 potential investors and investees from
187 countries at the Jerusalem International Convention Center, the summit is
attractive for young Israelis who, like Adir and Liat, served in the IDF
computer world and are now employed in technology.
But on
stage they are demonstrating one of the achievements of Israel’s industry: a
stand-up wheelchair by a Yokne’am-Illit-based company called UpnRide. Six-and-a-half
years ago, then-IDF soldier Adir was paralyzed from the chest down. Confined to
a wheelchair, his dream was to stand – not sit – under the wedding canopy.
Israeli
ingenuity came to the rescue. UpnRide, a robotic standing wheelchair, was designed
by Amit Goffer, a mechanical engineer who also became paralyzed in an accident.
He first designed ReWalk, the exoskeleton which has helped paraplegics walk.
UpnRide, which works for quadriplegics, takes mobility much further.
UpnRide
isn’t at the summit merely to showcase its success. It is looking for the right
investors to increase the company’s forward mobility, too.
No one
can question the good of UpnRide. The advantages of a standing wheelchair seem
obvious – letting quadriplegics see the world at eye level, and with a single
push of a button change their world by allowing them to stand and sit at will.
The robotic device is able to navigate on indoor and outdoor surfaces without
tipping.
Which
brings us back to our beautiful young couple. Adir and Liat Siman Tov.
They
met on a dating app, not surprising for two techie young people. Adir was
already paralyzed. They dated for seven months, but Liat says she knew he was
“the one” from their first date. She was looking for someone who was smart,
interesting and religious. She wanted to be able to laugh with her husband and
to feel “she was home” when they were together. “When he proposed, I said yes
right away. I love him. He’s extraordinary,” she said. She was 26 and he was
27.
She
knew he very much wanted to stand at the wedding; but every time she asked him
how he was going to accomplish this, he changed the topic – even on the phone
the day before the wedding.
He
didn’t tell her that 40 days before the wedding he wrote to UpnRide and told
them of his dream. They invited him to the company to see the product.
Liat
was sitting in the bride’s chair, accepting blessings and praying. Around her,
friends were singing quietly when she saw a group approaching her. “I looked for Adir and saw
him standing taller than anyone else. My heart was beating so hard I could
hardly breathe. His face is always glowing, but it was glowing more,” she said.
“My
heart was beating fast, too,” Adir says.
He
approached Liat, and they exchanged knowing, loving glances as he lifted the
veil, and the wedding went forward.
“I
could do it from above, looking down at my lovely bride, as I dreamed,” said Adir.
“I couldn’t contain my happiness.”
That’s impact.
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