My name is Adam Gorlitsky and after five years, 50 road races, 1.2 million steps, and a Guinness World record, my exoskeleton is finally on its last leg and needs to be replaced — I am raising funds for a new exoskeleton that will not only help me to continue living an active and healthy lifestyle, but that will also help me to continue furthering our mission with my organization, I GOT LEGS.
HOW I BECAME PARALYZED:
On the night of December 30, 2005, I was involved in a catastrophic car accident which left me paralyzed from the waist down with a spinal cord injury. Doctors said I would never be able to walk again.
THE REWALK ROBOTIC EXOSKELETON aka “THE BETTY CARLTON” (2015-PRESENT DAY):
In August of 2015, after a decade of living with paralysis, I was given the opportunity to explore a breakthrough new technology at my local rehab center – a ReWalk robotic exoskeleton — a groundbreaking device that would allow me to stand up and walk again. Shortly after, I launched a fundraising campaign for my very own personal exoskeleton that I honorably named ‘The Betty Carlton’ — Betty after my late grandmother, and Carlton after my favorite T.V show character Carlton Banks from the Fresh Price of Bel Air.
Over the past 5 years(2015-present day), the Betty Carlton and I have walked in 50 road races and a grand total of nearly 1.2 million overall steps. We even broke the Guinness World record for exoskeleton marathon walking — 33 hours, 16 minutes, 28 seconds. Along the way, I’ve lost weight, added muscle, improved the bone density in my legs, and have bettered my posture and overall circulation.
WHY DO I NEED A NEW EXOSKELETON:
The maintenance warranty for a new exoskeleton only last for 5 years, and because I have put a lot of wear and tear on my current exoskeleton (1.2 million steps), it is starting to break down way more than it use to, which means it is way more cost effective for me to buy a new exoskeleton than it is to pay for the repairs each time it breaks down. Insurance will not cover a new exoskeleton or the repairs on my current one.
I GOT LEGS MISSION AND GOALS W/THE EXOSKELETON:
Our mission with I GOT LEGS is to ReEnable paralyzed athletes to walk again and improve the overall quality of life for people with disabilities. One of my main goals going forward is to turn exoskeleton walking into the next great adaptive sport for paralyzed athletes. A new exoskeleton will allow for me to continue making progress towards that goal — It will also help me to raise funds for other people’s exoskeletons, and make improvements to the current technology.
