User:Laquitadian56/Aaron Baker (recovering quadriplegic/athlete)

Aaron Baker (recovering quadriplegic/athlete) born January 23, 1979 in Newport Beach, CA, raised in Carmel,CA, celebrated an accomplished career as a Motocross racer until a testing accident on May 26, 1999 broke his neck, rendering him a quadriplegic. While lying motionless in the dirt, Aaron immediately knew he was destined to have a far greater purpose than winning trophies aboard a motorcycle.

The initial doctors prognosis was that Aaron had a "one in a million" chance of ever regaining any type of function from below the neck, however, Aaron and his family chose to challenge the condition rather than settle and adapt. With continued, unimpeded consistency and dedication toward his recovery program and ongoing therapeutic exercise, Aaron is now able to do things most thought impossible. It has become Aaron's mission to share his process, giving hope, motivation, and opportunities to those without, encouraging others to challenge their adversity, no matter how severe, ultimately improving the quality of their life.

In 2003 Aaron received a Citizen's Award from the Board of Supervisor's of the County Of Los Angeles, CA for completing the 26 mile Los Angeles Marathon on the backseat of a tandem bicycle.

In 2007 Aaron founded the "Rise Above Tour", a 3,182 mile cross country bicyle tour, with Aaron backseat on the tandem bicycle, from San Diego, CA ending in St. Augustine, FL for the purpose of showcasing the "Power of Possibility" and the nessecity of engaging in ongoing therapeutic exercise after sustaining a debilitating injury or suffering a chronic illness. Aaron spoke at hospitals, rehabilation centers, and VA Centers encouraging patients, families, and medical staff with his example of progress.

In 2008 the Rise Above Tour began in San Francisco, CA, across the famous "Transamerica Trail, ending in Washington D.C.,covering 4,200 miles, however this tour saw Aaron under his own power, pedaling independantly aboard a specially built 3 wheeled Trike, becoming the 1st quadriplegic known to cross the country on a bicycle.

In 2009, with functional gains continuing, Aaron was invited to begin training for the Paralympic Games in London, 2012.

Aaron aims to champion a change in the way catastrophic injury is treated and managed, change in perceptions regarding disability itself, aspiring to inspire all individuals to the limitless power of what is humanly obtainable through dedication, commitment, perseverance, and loving support.