Asger Marsh, a 7-year-old boy from Stroud living with cerebral palsy, has become the first person in the UK to trial the innovative Agilik bionic exoskeleton—a device designed to enhance mobility and improve walking ability.
Created by Bionic Power, the Agilik exoskeleton provides support through motorized leg braces, enabling users to move with greater ease and endurance. Asger had the opportunity to test the device at home for a week, thanks to a trial run facilitated by London Orthotic Consultancy. Although his family invested £600 to participate, the cost of producing each exoskeleton is a steep £72,000, and the technology is not yet commercially available.
This financial hurdle has led Asger’s parents, Holly and Sam Marsh, to launch a fundraising campaign to help cover the future cost of the bionic leg braces. Their JustGiving page has already raised over £14,600, reflecting strong community support.
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Holly, a part-time administrator and mother of three, expressed both the emotional and physical demands involved in caring for Asger and securing his access to cutting-edge treatments. “There is such a ridiculous price hike when it comes to anything related to disabilities. It’s exhausting, but as a parent, you’d do anything for your child,” she said. “Our goal is to give Asger the chance to be more independent, even just to get into town by himself.”
During his trial from March 3 to 12, Asger experienced notable improvements. Typically, walking is an exhausting activity for him that leaves him tired and frustrated. But with the exoskeleton’s assistance, Asger was able to walk to school independently, conserving energy and boosting his confidence.
People with cerebral palsy often expend three to four times more energy to perform activities that others take for granted. The Agilik device, operated via a mobile app, finely adjusts to the wearer’s walking pattern through precise micro-tweaks, providing tailored support. Holly described it as akin to an electric bike—but for the legs.
Originally designed in Canada for military use—which involved activities like parachuting and long-distance running—the exoskeleton represents the forefront of medical technology. For Asger, it brought a new sense of freedom, allowing him to engage in longer play sessions with his sisters without becoming overly tired.
Asger’s family hopes to raise sufficient funds to secure one of the life-changing devices permanently, transforming his daily mobility and quality of life.