Mum and son to run in honour of 'inspiring' dad

The wife and son of a rugby player who was left paralysed from the chest down after a tackle during a game will run the Great North Run in his honour.

Former Banbury Rugby Club captain and coach John Baker was left dependent on a ventilator following the accident on 13 November 2024.

His wife Tina and son Sean are taking on the popular half marathon to raise funds for Spinal Research and awareness of the impact of a spinal cord injury.

Fitness instructor Tina said she wanted to join her son for "such a great cause" in honour of his "brave and inspiring dad".

During the tackle, John, known as JB, was injured when his neck was compressed and dislocated.

He spent four months in intensive care at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and a further 14 months in a care home and Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit before returning to a specially-adapted home in June.

JB, who is managing director of Hawkins Steel, said it had been "a huge adjustment" for him and his family.

"One of the hardest things about this awful injury is not being able to hug my wife.

"But I'm so grateful to them for how they have coped and for all the wonderful support I've had from so many people, especially in the rugby community."

In December, Hook Norton Brewery made a special craft beer dedicated to him, called JB's Journey.

Tina said they had "always done everything together", which had made his injury "particularly hard".

But she said "having hope for the future is really important".

In January 2025, JB's daughter Georgina completed 12 hikes in 12 months to raise money for the RFU Injured Players Foundation.

According to Spinal Research, someone in the UK is paralysed after a spinal cord injury every two hours.

Suzanne Redding from the charity said they were now "at a point where breakthrough therapies are coming through".

"It's an exciting time but we urgently need the funds to get these treatments to people like John who need them."