Zac Vawter, first person to climb Willis Tower wearing a bionic leg

Zac Vawter became the first person to climb Chicago’s Willis Tower (103 floors) wearing a bionic leg. Vawter lost his right leg in an accident and has been wearing the neural-controlled prosthetic limb for about a year. The bionic leg synchronises its movements to electrical impulses from the muscles in the hamstring, ensuring a smooth gait.

“One of the biggest difference for me is being able to take stairs step-over-step like everyone else,” said Vawter. “With my standard prosthesis, I have to take every step with my good foot first and sort of lift or drag the prosthetic leg up. With the bionic leg, it’s simple, I take stairs like I used to, and can even take two at a time.”,he said.

SkyRise Chicago is a climb and fundraising event that raises funds for RIC’s world-class clinical care and innovative research. Nearly 3,000 participants will climb 103 flights of stairs of Willis Tower, or hand cycle the equivalent with specially calibrated hand-cycles, or “virtually” participate through fundraising alone to raise funds for RIC.