Travis Surch Fundraising Charity Lunch – Gold Coast Turf Club

WORDS: Ocean Road Editorial Staff PHOTOGRAPHY Brian Usher - www.usherusher.com 0412 910 857

In 2014, when in his early 30’s, Travis Surch had a workplace accident which required 7 surgeries – it caused a 65% whole body impairment and spinal cord fracture of C1-2, C4-5 and C 6-7,T1-T2.

It also fractured his SIJ spine and required a total replacement of his right hip and a shoulder reconstruction, as well as fluid on the brain.

Over the next 4 years he had to relearn how to walk.

After then competing stem cell and intensive alternative therapies in Thailand, his life was starting to get back on track and he could work again, but then severe degeneration around the metalware escalated to the stage where his whole spine fuses naturally on every level, with the nerves causing insane pain, regular seizures, and has seen him now full time rehabbing as well as 10 nights in Brisbane Private Hospital every 11 weeks for an intravenous pain numbing program.

Between 2020 and 2025 to date, he has endured 16 revision surgeries on his brain as well as cervical, thoracic, hips, shoulder, nerve repositioning elbow and hands, as well as SIJ lumbar surgeries.

Despite all of this, Travis remains committed and positive to his intense rehabbing, and despite knowing that life will never be “the same” as it was pre-accident, he sees glimmers of hope even in the darkest of places.

Crazily, NDIS has reduced his funding substantially, and all of his personal resources have been exhausted, including having to sell his home and all investments he had.

And now, as often happens in time of crisis, the best of humanity arises… his mates have banded together to put on some events and a GofundMe page to assist with his rehabilitation needs.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/lets-get-behind-this-champion-of-a-man-travis-surch