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This 12-year-old’s Got a Grip, and is changing the world Have you ever struggled to open a jar of jam before? We’ve all tried different gadgets and tricks to pry a jar open. Sometimes with success, and other times waiting for someone with a stronger grip to open it for us. Ruby Mainwaring had witnessed this struggle first hand when her Poppa Ray tried to open a tight jar of jam for his toast one day. Instead of opening the jar for him every time, Ruby thought of a better solution, which has now made her a cutting-edge inventor, and savvy business owner at the age of 12. For Ruby the, getagrip™ was a way for her to help her Poppa, who has always been very special to her and has inspired her ever since she was little.Who knew that to date the getagrip™ would win the 2018 Manawatu Science &Technology Fair Premier Award forTechnology, the Best Business Potential Award, as well as be aTop 5 finalist for the Innovate 2018 awards. The idea first came to Ruby when she came home from school telling her parents she had to do a Science Fair project, and she wanted to invent something to help Poppa open jars. Poppa lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a motor sensory neuropathy affecting his peripheral nerves causing muscle wastage in his hands, resulting in very little strength grip. Ruby soon realized that this was an everyday struggle for many people, not only those who have a condition. “I have researched many different products on the market, which are either expensive, ineffective, or both.They had no dual grip allowing for twisting of both the top and bottom of the jar which is the getagrip™ great point of difference” says Ruby, on the product’s website. “Over 40% of New Zealanders suffer from arthritis and thousands more have muscle wasting conditions affecting their ability to getagrip™, ”explains Ruby. The concept is simple, and the product is practical but has made a world of difference to many users including Ruby’s Poppa Ray, Granny, and even herself. Just look at the overwhelming amount of testimony from users, one saying, “ getagrip™ is just what I need,” and another exclaiming, “awesome product and even better it really works.”While another praises Ruby declaring, “such an inspiration that a 12-year-old designed this.” Ruby and her team are hopeful that within the next couple years they’ll be able to expand their product to Australia, and then worldwide, as arthritis affects 350,000,000 people worldwide.When asked how she felt about her product, and the impact she is having on the everyday lives of so many, Ruby responded with this, “I just wanted to help my Poppa Ray open the jam jar for his toast, but I soon realised that this problem affects so many people with 95% of people we surveyed saying they struggle to open jars. It is exciting to have found such a simple and unique dual-grip solution, and we look forward to helping anyone and everyone with this frustrating everyday problem.” The getagrip™ is available at getagrip.nz , for purchase, or by email, sales@getagrip.nz , and comes in two different sizes for small and big jars. Delivery is available nationwide in New Zealand, or if you live in the Palmerston North area, pick up is also available. A portion from each getagrip ™ sold will be donated to the Neurological Foundation. Please use promo code “NEUROLOGICAL” in the additional comment section when ordering on getagrip.nz or when emailing sales@getagrip.nz to place an order. Ruby, Poppa and family at the Innovate 2018 awards 18 / Headlines