Thank you for taking the time to visit my Just Giving page in honour of my dad. My dad John (JB) Baker was involved in an accident during a rugby game playing for our local VETS team at Banbury Rugby Club on Wednesday 13th November 2024. My dad has always loved to dance and play rugby for his whole life. Unfortunately due to this accident my dad has been left paralysed from the chest down losing function in both arms and legs. As you can imagine this has been completely life altering for my dad and for us as a family as well. For those who know my dad, he is known for being a big friendly giant who loves to cut some shapes on a dance floor and have a pint of Guinness after coaching / screaming at his team on the sidelines of a rugby game. My dad is very active ranging from competing in ballroom and latin dance competitions in 2012 to doing multiple wolf runs along side my mum including the paras 10 with 36 lbs on their backs. My dad is the strongest person I know and his strength has shown through his whole injury and will continue to show through his rehab. This is my way of showing my dad how strong I can be for him.

The Challenge:

During 2025, I am going to do 12 hikes in 12 months for the RFU Injured Players Foundation and in support of my dad. I have planned out all 12 routes, first hike being 29th January 2025 in the Peak District. The 12 hikes have both got physical and mental challenges as well as the distances I will have to prepare for. I intend on videoing and keeping all hikes updated and vlogged to show my dad all the scenery as if he is there with me. This is for the same reason I intend on keeping everyone updated on all of the progression on each hike and what training I am doing to get me ready to show how it is going.

Hikes:

January: Loughrigg Fell, Rydal Cave and Deerbolts Wood Circular

February: Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd Circular

March: Yr Wyddfa via Miners’ and Pyg Tracks

- This hike is specific to us as a family as this will be happening on my 21st birthday and my dads 54th birthday (15th March) I will be hiking this trail at night to watch the sun rise at the summit. This is an open invitation for all that would want to come and support or join me on the sunrise hike up.

April: Craster and Dunstanburgh Castle Circular

May: Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door and Ringstead Bay

June: Pen Y Fan Horseshoe

July: Scafell Pike

August: Glenridding and Helvellyn Circular

September: Dovedale Walk Bunster Hill + Thorpe Cloud

October: Castleton, Mam Tor and Lose Hill Circular

November: The Dragon’s Back

December: Fairfield Horseshoe

The Charity:

The RFU Injured Players Foundation is a foundation that supports rugby players who have sustained a catastrophic spinal injury or an active traumatic brain injury and help prevent future injuries through research and education. This foundation offers lifelong and immediate support to the players that were injured and to their families. The fund researches into the cause and the outcomes of serious injuries and helps identify the best ways to prevent and treat them.

My dad injury is a catastrophic injury resulting in spinal damage from the C3-C6 which is what caused the loss of function in both arms and legs. My dad has supported both myself and my family our whole lives and now it’s my turn give back to him and to those who are going through the same thing.

We appreciate all those who have supported us and helped us in ways we could never have imagined. This is now the chance to give back to those who have also been struggling with it with their families and to give extra to the RFU to help those who really need it.

Thank you and I look forward to taking you on this journey with me. For those of you, who would want to join me at any point for any climb/ hike for whatever reason, I will be happy to have the company.