Bristol students to walk 230km for fellow student suffering life-changing injuries

30 Bristol University students and friends will be walking 230 kilometers to raise funds for fellow student who suffered life-changing injuries after falling from a tree.

Xander Van Poll, a Bristol Medicine student, fell from a tree in May and sustained injuries that mean he may never walk again. He has been in hospital undergoing treatment and rehabillitation since his fall.

The 230 km walk, aimed at raising funds for the ongoing care and support for Xander Van Der Poll once he leaves hospital, will last for nine days. It will start at Bristol University Medical School, ending at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry.

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Day 63: After coming back from my first meal with my family, it led me to reflect on how far I have come. • These 2 photos were taken exactly 9 weeks apart. In the first photo you can see me fighting for my life. Whilst on the outside I might still be smiling, on the inside my lung had collapsed, my back was unstable and I was in tremendous pain. The following few weeks felt like years, but in the end we got there. By no means am I independent yet - my dad had to take 30 minutes helping me change into chinos in the Prezzo disabled toilet - but by celebrating the small victories, I have managed to keep my spirits high and get this far in such a short period of time.

A post shared by Xander Van der Poll (@six_weeks_in_bed) on Jul 26, 2018 at 4:18pm PDT

The walk will be led by Maddie Arnold, a second year medical student. Alongside friends from the University and home, she felt that a long-distance walk between Van Der Poll's university and the hospital where he is undergoing rehabilitation was a fitting tribute to the fellow medical student and United Bristol Hospitals RFC (UBHRFC) player.

The students have set up a Just Giving crowdfunding page: The Xander Trail. So far they have managed to raise over £2000 from friends and family. They will also be carrying a donation bucket for the duration of their walk.

With only 2 days to go Maddie and the organising team are making the final arrangements for the walk and are hoping to meet up with plenty of well-wishers and supporters along their route.

Featured Image: Instagram / @six_weeks_in_bed