Ellon Academy's efforts aid severely injured former pupil in the US
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Ellon Academy has joined community efforts in the north-east to aid a severely injured former pupil, footballer Ethan Walker.
Ethan Walker (17), who used to play for Huntly Football Club, made the journey to America in pursuit of his goal of becoming a professional footballer.
Originally from Ellon, Ethan secured a spot in Genesee Community College's football team in the state of New York.
Keen to seize the opportunity and realize his dream, Ethan had been going to the gym and doing everything he possibly could to start the season in the best way possible.
However, on September 12, he was hit by a car reportedly going over 45mph while making his way back to his dorm.
Luckily, two of Ethan's teammates were with him at the time and were on hand to call emergency services straight away.
He was then airlifted to hospital and placed in ICU where hospital staff fought to keep him alive.
He had suffered a shattered right scapula, dislocated right knee, tearing to all of his ligaments in his right knee, multiple fractures in the right side of his face, skull fractures as well as swelling and bleeding in the brain.
Ethan's mum, who was at home in Scotland when the incident happened, was notified and within a day she was by her son's side in hospital.
To help the family with medical expenses not covered by insurance, Ethan's teammates at Genesee set up an online fundraiser.
It has since received widespread support including at Ellon Academy where a Dress Down Day for Ethan Walker was held on Friday.
A spokesperson for the school said: "As ever, our wonderful Exec Team organised a hugely successful collection for Ethan Walker, our former pupil who was injured in an accident in America recently, whilst returning from a training session.
"We are humbled and overwhelmed to let you know that with the generous contributions from learners, parents, carers, staff, and friends of Ellon Academy, we have been able to raise £1543 for Ethan’s Go Fund Me Page.
"This is a fantastic effort and will go a long way to help Ethan.
"Thank you to all who have so generously contributed, and we will pass this onto Ethan’s family with our warmest wishes to them and Ethan as they support him in his journey to recovery."
Huntly, Ethan's former team, also shared the fundraiser which has now raised $45,000 to show their support with many of the club's players and coaches contributing to it directly.
Ethan has since been moved out of the trauma intensive care unit and will now begin what will likely be a long and difficult period of healing and rehabilitation.
Huntly will further support their former player with fundraising at their home game against Clachnacuddin on October 30.
Donations can be made by visiting https://bit.ly/ethanwalker.
