INSPIRATIONAL ‘bionic girl’ Tilly Lockey is helping a woman who lost a hand through domestic violence to raise funds for a robotic arm just like hers.

Tilly, of Consett, County Durham, who had both hands amputated after falling ill with meningococcal septicaemia B at just 15 months has two bionic arms, known as a Hero Arm.

The 15-year-old was moved by the plight of Suaranjit Singh, who had her left hand amputated due to domestic violence at the age of seven.

Suaranjit Singh, who was born in Malaysia before moving to London, filmed an emotional video sharing her story about her struggles growing up.

Tilly, who is a presenter on Sky’s FYI: For Your Information, said: “My mam recently started a job with Open Bionics, which makes my arms and for whom I am an ambassador.

“My mum is part of the team as well now and supports people with crowdfunding campaigns for Hero Arms.

“I watched a video of a woman called Suaranjit who had lost her hand as a child due to domestic violence and how it affected her. It was so emotional and hit me hard.

“When I found out that she would really struggle to crowdfund, because she has nobody to ask to help her, I felt an obligation to try and help out as much as I can.

“I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. She is really quite alone. I am trying to get as many people as possible to donate, if they can.”

Tilly, who uses her social media platform to promote body positivity and self love, said her ultimate goal is to make the Hero Arm accessible to all limb difference lower arm amputees.

She said: “The cost is the problem. I believe to have four limbs is a human right and if prosthetics that are available on the NHS are not helpful then there should be an alternative available for all people that need them."

The Hero Arm is changing the lives of hundreds of upper limb amputees – both adults and children as young as eight-years-old.

The Bristol-based Open Bionics use 3D printing and 3D scanning, along with some clever software and design to custom-manufacture each Hero Arm, which can then be accessorised with various covers, including Star Wars, Iron Man and even Metal Gear Solid designs.

Suaranjit said: “When I was seven-years-old I had to have my left hand amputated due to domestic violence.

“I was then taken to an orphanage where growing up with only one hand was difficult. Some children would be kind and offer to help me but others looked at me differently and called me an alien and to go away.”

Before the pandemic, Suaranjit, worked as a carer, looking after the elderly and people with special needs. She also looks after her own family, her husband who is blind, and her two children.

She said: “The Hero Arm would make so much difference to my life.

“I would finally be able to do everyday tasks and hopefully it will take some of the strain off my overworked right hand, which causes me a lot of pain in my shoulder and back.

“It makes me happy to think that one day I might be able to do my own hair and get dressed easier. I am so grateful that there is technology out there now that can help with this. It would change my life. It would make me feel more confident.”

Her husband said: “She is my eyes and I am her hands. She would wear a cosmetic prosthetic in the past but it was heavy for her. I hope that she can get a Hero Arm that will make her smile and help her do everyday tasks that she struggles with.”

To donate visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/hope-for-a-hero-arm.