Father and 3D printing enthusiast Nick Hardman has embarked on an inspiring project: creating custom 3D printed toys for children with disabilities. After initially making PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hardman moved on to making unique toys designed to help children understand and cope with their medical conditions.
Shipped around the world from his Leeds-based 3D Toy Shop Teddy Hospital, his creations include prosthetics, heart transplants, insulin pumps, foot splints and mini dialysis machines.
Hardman works with volunteer “surgeons” who sew and assemble stuffed animals when demand is high. Parents can request a specialized stuffed animal or doll through its website, and there’s an ongoing fundraiser to sponsor toys for families who can’t afford them. Toys not only offer representation and inclusion for children facing medical issues, but also help them better understand their conditions.
After creating a Teddy shunt valve for a 3-year-old boy with hydrocephalus, Hardman’s design gained popularity and he began offering the EU Toy Safety Law compliant accessory to families and children’s hospitals around the world. .
Hardman’s main goal is to create toys that don’t exist, providing support and comfort to children in need. According to the website, the project is operating at a loss, so donations are greatly appreciated.
And if you’re feeling kind and want to donate to help some kids cope with their problems in hospital, then you can head over to the GoFundMe page and throw in a few pounds/bucks.
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