- December 4, 2025
Last year, Ormond Beach resident Scott Baker watched his youngest son run the New York City Marathon.
He also saw people in wheelchairs completing the marathon. That motivated him to do the same.
"It's so inspiring watching those people," Baker said. "I've always been an athlete."
Originally from Canada, playing hockey was a way of life. He attended Kent State University in Ohio on a hockey scholarship, and at 21 years old, he was the co-captain of the university hockey team.
Then one night in 1982, Baker became paralyzed from the waist down after two drunk drivers, who were drag racing, crashed into a car occupied by Baker and two of his college friends.
Baker doesn't remember the crash. He remembers waking up in the hospital and being told he'd never walk again. That wasn't the hard part.
It was watching his parents react to the news.
"I accepted it," Baker said. "I said, 'It is what it is — wrong place, wrong time. Get on with your life'. But watching everybody else suffer? That was the toughest [part.] I couldn't imagine what it was like for my parents to drive from Canada down to Kent, Ohio, not knowing what happened to me."
Baker, who works at the Publix in Ormond-by-the-Sea, said his life's outlook has been if he can help someone, he'll try his best to do so, and that includes raising money.
So when he made the decision to wheel in the Nov. 2 New York City marathon — which will be his first ever — he did so with the same intention. Baker will be joined by his sons Joey and Matthew, and niece Carly, who are all part of a team that is aiming to raise $25,000 for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to benefit spinal cord injury research.
The foundation also helps people with mobility impairment diagnoses including strokes, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and others.
"Team Reeve" marathoners have participated in major marathons in Boston, Chicago, and NYC, raising over $1 million with 135 team members last year.
This year, Team Reeve has over 100 athletes participating in these marathons and is aiming to raise $800,000 for research and resource programs.
So far, Baker and his team have raised about $5,450.
Spinal cord research has been a big part of Baker's life. His twins, Joey and daughter Kelly, were the first twins born in Canada through in vitro fertilization from a paraplegic.
"That was all through spinal cord research," Baker said. "But the stuff they're doing nowadays, they're connecting stuff, making people walk. If I can help anybody to not go through what I went through, that's the whole goal."
If it wasn't to help raise money for spinal cord research, Baker said, he doesn't know if he'd take part in the marathon. Before his injury, he wasn't a runner.
"Never even intrigued me," Baker said. "We had to train for hockey, but long distance? Not a chance. Wasn't doing it."
His son Matthew wasn't a runner either before he ran for Team Reeve last year in the NYC marathon. In fact, Matthew played minor pro hockey. His older son Joey is a fireman in Canada.
Sports remained a big part of Baker's life after his injury. Following his recovery, he went back to Kent State to help coach the hockey team, and began dating his wife Ellen. Over the years, he also did some scouting.
About three months ago, he purchased a hand bike and started training, going for 15-20 miles. Locals may spot him biking north on Beach Street toward Tomoka State Park and back.
"Here in Florida, it's all flat, so I've been training a lot," Baker said. "I think I can do it, no problem. My son said the hills are pretty wicked though in the New York marathon, so it's pretty hard."
Baker has a plan for that too though: As the date for the marathon approaches, he'll take on biking over the Granada bridge.
To donate to Baker's team, visit https://give.reeve.org/fundraiser/6165216.
