‘Make it to Munich’ film follows inspiring journey of former Huntly footballer whose life hung in the balance after a road accident but who recovered to complete 800-mile cycle from Hampden Stadium to Germany for Euro 2024 Championships
A film has been made charting a footballer’s inspiring journey from a life-threatening accident to complete an epic 800-mile cycle.
The parents of former Huntly Football Club youth player Ethan Walker were told their son may not survive being struck by a car while studying in America.
The accident left the Ellon-based teenager with multiple injuries including several fractures, two brain haemorrhages and the complete dislocation of his right knee.
He had also suffered nerve damage and dysphagia, which affected his ability to swallow, and his life hung in the balance.
But Ethan’s mum Jaclyn always believed her son would pull through, and against all odds he did.
Not only that, the determined Aberdeenshire youth took on a gruelling cycle from Glasgow to Germany as part of his recovery, and his uplifting story was made into a film ‘Make it to Munich’ which is being premiered across the country.
Ethan was joined on his quest by the brilliant surgeon who rebuild his body after his accident, and a filmmaker who pedalled the 800 miles with one hand on a camera and the other on his handlebars to produce the inspiring footage.
Now audiences across Scotland will get the chance to see the heroes of the journey in person as they appear at a series of special live screening events of the film, joined by some well-known Scottish sporting faces.
The tour kicks off on 15th May at GFT in Glasgow with former Rangers and Scottish International forward Stephen Naismith, then visits DCA in Dundee on 21st May with a special guest to be confirmed.
It comes to Eden Court in Inverness on 23rd May with Inverness Caley Thistle legend Barry Wilson, then Bo’ness Hippodrome on 25th May with former Manchester United and Rangers footballer Jimmy Nicholl, Robert Burns Centre in Dumfries on 29th May with former Falkirk and Gretna player Kenny Deuchar and a special homecoming screening at Ethan’s hometown of Ellon on 8th June with The Open Championship-winning Scottish golfer Paul Lawrie, who himself received career-saving surgery from the same source as Ethan.
Even six weeks after the accident, Ethan was in a wheelchair and being fed through a tube, and his shattered knee required a complete rebuild.
On the recommendation of Huntly FC chairman Gordon Carter, Ethan’s family approached orthopaedic sports surgeon, Professor Gordon Mackay, a former footballer once on the books of Rangers.
The Stirlingshire surgeon carried out pioneering work to restore the shattered limb to working order and it proved to be the beginning of a friendship.
During one of Ethan’s follow-up appointments, Professor MacKay challenged Ethan to join him on an ambitious cycle journey from Glasgow to Munich, to coincide with the start of last year’s European Championships football tournament.
The idea came from a filmmaker friend of the Professor who was planning his own cycle to Munich in memory of a fellow Tartan Army member, and the end result was a film charting Ethan’s incredible journey to Bavaria, just nine months after his terrible accident.
Make it to Munich received a sell-out World Premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival and will now tour the whole of Scotland.
A side story to Ethan’s amazing cycle is that he was entrusted by Scotland football team captain Andy Robertson to carry the match pennant on his back for the whole journey and deliver it in time for kick off when Scotland took on hosts Germany in the opening match of the tournament.
Ethan said: "I was really excited about the prospect of this adventure being filmed and had no real worries about not making it to Munich. I like a challenge, and I knew the film would give me something I could look back on forever.
"We all quickly became a tight-knit team over the course of our trip. It wasn't all plain saying as the film will no doubt show although I haven’t seen the film yet! My first viewing will be at the premiere."
The film’s maker Martyn Robertson, who founded Blackhouse Films in 2019, said: "When Gordon told me about Ethan I had to meet him. He is an inspirational young man with a great story, which I immediately wanted to capture on film.
"His warmth, enthusiasm and positive attitude is infectious. The ride was an incredible experience, and I never ever thought I would take part in such a challenging road trip.
"What has emerged is an uplifting story of human willpower, scientific ingenuity and the questionable wisdom of making a film with one hand while the other one grasps the handlebars for a 1200 kilometres cycle.”
Professor Mackay realised the magnitude of his task in rebuilding Ethan’s life when first met him at his clinic in Stirling's Kings Park Hospital in November 2023, around six weeks after the accident.
“Although I had spoken to his mum, Jaclyn, I didn’t fully appreciate the extent of Ethan's injuries,” he said.
“He was an emaciated young man, and I found myself very moved. My initial reaction, as a father as well as a doctor, was to do everything I could to help him.”
As soon as Ethan’s feeding tube was removed, Professor Mackay carried out the complex operation to reconstruct Ethan’s knee in one sitting.
All of his knee ligaments and cartilage were torn, and the surgery involved the insertion of Professor Mackay’s InternalBrace invention, which has revolutionised the treatment of damaged ligaments and tendons, halving the recovery time after injury.
Hard months of physio followed, with mum Jaclyn, who is a personal trainer, taking Ethan through daily and lengthy exercises in their home gym.
Professor Mackay, 60, who was briefly signed to Rangers in the late 1980s, has had a stellar career in orthopaedic medicine, focusing on sports injuries.
He is still a keen footballer and, in the months following the operation, maintained an interest in the talented young footballer's progress when he came to his clinic for check-ups. Over the months, the two became friends, a strong bond forming between them, in spite of the age difference.
That friendship led to the idea of their gruelling cycle last year, and the making of a film which will inspire so many.
Director and Producer Robertson added: “Make it to Munich is a film that will attract cinema goers, Scottish football fans and cyclists in equal measure – it’s a celebration of all things Scottish and follows the journey of an inspirational young person.
“I’m delighted to be travelling with the film and our special guests to meet audiences around Scotland. Come along and watch the film and take part in a unique conversation between the cast, myself and a local sporting legend.’
Tickets are on sale now at www.makeittomunich.com, with more dates and events to be announced soon. Alongside the special event screenings, the film will also be released in independent cinemas in the UK from 15th May. The Scottish cinema release is supported by Screen Scotland and Cosmic Cat Film Sales.
