The Race
This Sunday, March 2nd, Aaron Baker, 29, former motocross champion and recovering quadriplegic, will bike publicly for the first time with his Rise Above Team at the Los Angeles Marathon. This historic marathon has been a Los Angeles tradition for 22 years, and Conscience Entertainment Group is proud to be the one to present Aaron Baker to the public.
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The Marathon is 26 miles long, over which 20 thousand runners, walkers, and bicyclists will raise money for
Baker’s C.O.R.E. foundation (Center for Rehabilitative Exercise), which provides all forms of aid to those with debilitating injuries.
The Foundation
“C.O.R.E. seeks to give individuals whose lives have been shattered by devastating spinal injuries the ability to regain mobility and lead active & fulfilling lives.”
C.O.R.E. aims to change attitudes about the treatment of “catastrophic injuries.” Most people do not realize how vital to their being their health is, and the foundation is committed to helping people realize that health can be achieved through daily exercise. The foundation believes that the after-effects of a debilitative injury may be greatly diminished or even prevented through exercise.
C.O.R.E. aims to assist those with such injuries through an extended care program, after an individual has been released from medical care. With C.O.R.E., “no” is NOT an answer!
The foundation has specially designed exercise programs and provides state-of-the art facilities with “unique and personalized equipment,” “low cost integrated, structural, personalized and progressive evaluations, treatment plans, and education to help improve function, independence, and self-efficacy.”
The Man
Aaron Baker is a former motocross champion. In 1999, he suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury. The future looked bleak for Baker – his doctors predicted that it would almost certainly prevent him from even feeding himself, let alone walking or competing professionally. Baker admits that at first, neither he nor his family and friends had much hope. Even his Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Taylor Kevin, did not see much of a chance for Baer.
However, Aaron Baker had too much passion to let such a verdict dictate his life. With hard work, he overcame colossal odds, and has proven his doctors and his injury wrong again and again. His will to overcome his physical obstacle has only made him a stronger and more caring person.
On Sunday, Baker will bike the first 25 miles on a special Trik, and then walk the last symbolic mile. Thousands of other athletes will run, walk, and cycle in support of him and C.O.R.E. and millions of spectators will cheer him from the sidelines.
Some may see this Marathon as a great feat for a recovering quadriplegic; Baker however, sees this as just a stepping stone to grander things: This summer he will bike across America’s heartland.
“Rise Above US Bicycle Tour ’08: Transamerica Trail Ride,” is Aaron Baker’s "moment of truth," in which he will cycle across 3,000 miles within three months. The Rise Above Tour will start on June 10th in San Francisco and end in September in Washington D.C.
The Dream
Baker hopes to raise $1,000,000 to build and maintain C.O.R.E. facilities throughout the country. Aaron Baker describes his vision for C.O.R.E. as “an abundance of opportunity for my fellow friend who suffers.” He wants to use his experience as a way to help others.
Sunday is truly a special day. Not only because of the great physical effort exerted by both Baker and other athletes, but because it is a manifestation of one man’s struggle to rise above his circumstances. Baker is truly a hero; he is a prime example of that flame of fire that dwells within each and every one of us. His refusal to give in and his intense willpower to survive – and survive on HIS terms – makes him truly a great inspiration for all of us.
Please join us this Sunday to watch this incredible feat at 11 a.m. on 869 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Los Angeles (.3 miles from the Colosium). Read the conclusion to this amazing story here…
