Humans of Warwick - Tristan Boedts

Tristan Boedts

PhD Student, Behavioural Science 

“I was expected to be in a wheelchair by the time I was twenty-four.”

“I have limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which basically means my muscles will progressively get weaker as I get older.

And when I was told that I was going to be in a wheelchair in my early twenties, well, I was determined to do all the things that I knew wouldn’t be possible after that happened.

Wanting to see the world, that was the first thing I arranged. I put some dots on a map of all the places I wanted to visit and then set off, starting in South America. I’ve got the favourite places from my trip tattooed on my arm, Patagonia, Galapagos, Iguazú Falls, Ushuaia. It’s a nice way to remember and a real conversation starter, come and ask me about it!

Halfway round the world my dad joined me, he said he wanted to accompany me to one part of the world. I gave him a few options, but I also mentioned Everest! Not thinking he would go for it, he agreed. At this stage I was feeling quite strong, don’t get me wrong there had been some very challenging moments, Machu Picchu is difficult for anyone, but I was determined to see everywhere my own way.

Now, it would be too easy to take a plane to go and see Everest, wouldn’t it? After a few weeks of training, you need to acclimatise, we set off on the trail to Base Camp. I did it at my own pace, it took us about ten days but that gives you the opportunity to take in the beauty as well. I was completely exhausted at the end of every day thinking that I couldn’t carry on, but the next day came and off we went again. The altitude sickness got me on the last day as well, not a pretty sight! Because of my disability it was more dangerous for me to walk back down, I actually broke my spine a year later after falling down some temple steps in Egypt, so we had a helicopter bring us back down. It was an amazing experience, made even better by doing it with my dad.

Back here, I’m originally from Belgium but the UK is now my home, I was invited to start the Bidwells 10k in Oxford after taking part in it last year. It’s a charity run that raises funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK, so it was important that I did it. I’ve now been asked to take part in next year’s London Marathon, I mean, some days I can’t even get out of a chair but with an adapted wheelchair and a team to push me, we’re going to give it a go!

I’m 28 now, so that expected date to be permanently in a wheelchair has passed. I’m lucky and I hope keeping active has helped me as well. With any disability some days are better than others, I can feel weak because I didn't sleep well or because I’ve got an infection in my lungs. But I’m determined to push myself, academically, personally and physically.”