A devoted Newcastle United fan has raised more than £14,000 for the charity that supported his family during his son's year-long hospital stay.
David Baker, 37, from Surrey, embarked on a series of fundraising challenges in memory of his son, Barney, who passed away on December 30, 2023.
His most ambitious challenge in his bid to raise cash for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK was a 300-mile tandem cycle from Surrey to St James' Park, in Newcastle, with his father.
Barney, who passed away after an illness (Image: Supplied) Barney's medical journey began in January 2023 when he developed breathing difficulties after a family holiday.
His condition quickly escalated, leading to a complex medical journey across multiple hospitals.
Mr Baker said: "Barney didn't have one specific problem or genetic disorder.
David Baker and his family (Image: Supplied)
"Doctors couldn't get some of his organs to work properly, and they didn't know why.
"He fell into a medical loophole where no one really knew what to do with him."
The family's ordeal was compounded by difficult living conditions near the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Barney fell ill after developing breathing difficulties (Image: Supplied)
Mr Baker said: "Where we were living was pretty much like a squat.
"The ceiling would cave in during showers, we had a single bed for two of us, and the shared kitchen was unusable."
The family was separated from their other children, Willow and Sydney, seeing them for just one hour each Sunday.
Barney with his mum in hospital (Image: Supplied)
Their situation changed when they found Ronald McDonald House Evelina London, which allowed the entire family to stay together during Barney's treatment.
Mr Baker said: "The House didn't change the outcome for Barney, but it allowed my family to come back into our life.
"Try fighting in hell without everyone around you for support. You need that sense of normality."
David Baker and his family at St James' Park (Image: Supplied)
Despite efforts across multiple hospitals, Barney passed away and Mr Baker channelled his grief into fundraising challenges.
Speaking of his cycle to Newcasle, he said: "What made that trip special was that it gave me and my dad a chance to be together and talk about Barney.
"When you're on a tandem, you can both be at different fitness levels because you're next to each other.
David Baker and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes (Image: Supplied)
"We could smash out 150-160 kilometres a day and just chat."
During Barney's illness, the Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe, sent Mr Baker a video of support.
Upon reaching Newcastle, Mr Baker was invited to meet the manager and players, received a signed shirt, and watched Newcastle defeat Tottenham at St James' Park.
The family pictured with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and right-back Kieran Trippier (Image: Michelle Mercer)
He said: "When the cycling got hard, we'd say, 'This isn't hard compared to what Barney went through,' and keep going."
Mr Baker is now training for the TCS London Marathon while planning an even more ambitious fundraising goal: running the length of the UK and cycling back over a month.
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He said: "By fundraising, I can get Barney's name out there.
"It's more a case of wanting everyone to remember him while sharing what this charity did for us."
To support Mr Baker's fundraising efforts, visit his JustGiving page.
To find out more about Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, visit the charity's website.
