Charities supported by dedicated Oxfordshire fundraiser have congratulated him for his two decades of charity work this week.
Andy Baker, 33, from Didcot, is a brain injury survivor who has raised more than £380,000 throughout his fundraising years.
He made it his mission to raise hundreds and thousands of pounds for brain injury and children’s hospital charities across Oxfordshire.
Oxford Children’s Hospitals Charity (OCHC) is one of several charities that he and Play2Give, his fundraising organisation, has supported.
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Sarah Vaccari from OCHC said: “Andrew Baker and the Play2Give team have been huge supporters of the Oxford Children’s Hospital. Andy watched the hospital being built while he was a young patient and had an ambition to raise £500 to support our hospital appeal.
“Twenty years on he and the team have raised around £85,000 through their football events, sales, balls and family fun days. It is wonderful support, and we are delighted to congratulate Andy on this fantastic milestone.”
At the start of his role as Didcot mayor, councillor Mocky Khan chose the organisation to helpt it to raise funds for charity.
He said: “Andy Baker is a community champion and has become a local legend due to his hard work and fundraising through Play2Give. I am amazed by his commitment, dedication, and passion to help others.
“When I became Mayor, I wanted to help to raise funds, and help Andy and his team. This is why I chose Play2Give as one my Mayoral charities along with Coeliac UK. I do not know where Andy gets his energy from to arrange and organise so many fun events and to have done this for 20 years is outstanding. Well done Andy, congratulations and keep going!”
The team at Sobell House, a hospice at the Churchill Hospital in Headington, is another charity who has been supported by Mr Baker and Play2Give. A spokes person said:
“At Sobell House we are so grateful to Andy and Play2Give for all the support they have given to the hospice. Andy’s kindness and generosity shine through in everything he does. He is such a good friend to so many.”
A spokesperson for the charity Support for Sick Newborn and Parents (SSNAP) said: "SSNAP would like to say a huge thank you to Andy Baker MBE BCAv and his Play2Give team for their incredible support of SSNAP. Over the last ten years, Play2Give has regularly supported SSNAP by fundraising, giving monetary donations and donating gifts for parents and their families on the Neonatal Unit, every Christmas. We really can't thank Andy and play2give enough!”
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