For those who wear prosthetic limbs, it can often be difficult to adjust them correctly – the aid of a gait device, which assesses the fit of a prosthetic, can remedy the problem. The large price tag of gait devices make them an unaffordable luxury for many rehabilitation centers, but the Capoeira Mandinga club at Grand Valley State University is fundraising to purchase a gait device for Mary Free Bed Hospital.

The Capoeira Mandinga club combines fighting and dance, said Capoeira Mandinga President Robbie VanVossen.

“Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines fighting, dancing, music and acrobatics,” he said. “It was created by the African slaves in Brazil. They wanted a way to protect themselves, but their slave masters wouldn’t let them practice any martial arts, so they would hide their fighting moves in dance and song.”

Capoeira Mandinga has been planning the fund raiser since October. Angelica Pena, the financial officer for the organization, said they would like to raise about the same amount of money as they did at last years’ event.

“We would like to at least raise maybe $600 this year,” she said. “The device itself that we’re raising money for is like $27,000, so any little bit of money that we can raise would help their cause.”

Brett Auger, a Capoeira Mandinga member, said a gait device will help people get adjusted to their prosthetic.

“This device will aid their prosthetics department in assessing the fit of the prosthetic devices worn by their patients,” he said. “It will aid both patients and clinicians, as it can help reduce the amount of time patients spend coming in for follow up work and adjustments, and will provide clinicians with valuable short and long term data about the use, wear and fit of prosthetic devices.”

The fund raiser will be Feb. 14 through Feb. 17, and to raise money the organization will be selling T-shirts outside Loutit Lecture Halls for $10 and have a bake sale as well. The shirts will be cream colored with green writing to represent the colors of Mary Free Bed.

On Feb. 17, a bigger event will be held in the Grand River Room in the Kirkhof Center from 9 to 11 p.m. with guest speaker Stephanie Millis from Mary Free Bed Hospital. She will talk about the prosthetics division at the hospital and what they hope to do with the new gait device.

There will be also performances by the belly dancing club and Sabrosisimo, a Latin dance group on campus. Earlier in the day, tables will be set up in Padnos Hall of Science where people can make donations, buy T-shirts and find out information about Mary Free Bed and the gait device.

VanVossen said that along with what students can contribute, Capoeira Mandinga is looking for local businesses to help out as well.

“I am also involved in finding sponsors for the fund raiser,” he said. “We are looking to businesses to help us raise more money for the cause.” [email protected]