OBE for WheelPower Chairman Kevan Baker in New Years Honours List

WheelPower, the national disability sports organisation and charity for wheelchair sport is today celebrating the news that its Chairman, Kevan Baker of Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire was awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours List announced today.

Kevan Baker has been a paraplegic since a road traffic accident in 1979. Following his rehabilitation at Pinderfields Spinal Unit, Wakefield, Kevan became interested in athletics and especially discus. A competitor in discus in 4 Paralympic Games, Kevan has medalled in three and has also been a former World Champion and 4 times world record holder.

Kevan Baker became Chairman of the WheelPower – British Wheelchair Sport, in 1996 and is former Chairman of the organisations Sports Federation and Sports Management Committee.

President of WheelPower, The Hon Mark Vestey commented, “it is wonderful news that Kevan’s lifelong involvement and service to wheelchair sport and British wheelchair athletics as well as his own sporting achievements within the Paralympic movement have been recognised with this honour”.

Martin McElhatton, Chief Executive of WheelPower added, “thanks to the dedication of volunteers like Kevan disability sport has moved forward during his time involved with WheelPower. Kevan was a key driver in the redevelopment in 2003 of the facilities at Stoke Mandeville Stadium which provide disabled people with a superb venue for training and sports events.

Whether it is chairing meetings, meeting and influencing sponsors and donors or being the figurehead for the organisation, Kevan has set an excellent example giving of his time to ensure WheelPower is represented where needed.

As a former athlete himself, Kevan has a great understanding of the important role sport plays in transforming the lives of young and newly disabled people.”

Kevan said 'Words cannot express how proud I feel to have been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours for ‘services to disabled sport’. This is obviously a huge honour for me personally and I was quite emotional when I received the news. But I lead a superb organisation in WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport, with a fantastic team of staff and volunteers and it would be remiss of me not to share the accolade with them all. They will all be in my thoughts as I accept the award with deep pride. Together we do such valuable work for all disabled sportspeople and long may that continue. '