Welcome to the journey!

To be completely honest as parents, we really weren't comfortable starting a GoFundMe to help get our daughter Willow on the road to MTB Downhill World Cups. Asking for financial help is never easy. However, after reaching out to our local community for ideas, the overwhelming response was that we should set a GoFundMe up. A few businesses also pointed out that this is a most straight forward way for them to handle donation / sponsorship opportunities. We are incredibly grateful for that push and the belief so many of you have in her.

Race results in 2024, 2025 and 2026:

In 2024 Willow placed 2nd overall for the year in the Uk, that was her first year competing at National level. In 2025 Willow won 2 National races, placed 3rd at her first International race in Fort William and she placed 2nd overall in the British National Series even with missing out on a round. She also won 2 local races which she loves to go and support still as thats what got her to where she is today!

This year Willow placed 8th at the opening round of the iXS series in Portugal after qualifying 6th, 2nd at the first British National in Wales after qualifying 1st and at the Fort William iXS after a real struggle of a run she placed 9th but she was pleased with qualifying 4th the day before! - more results on https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider158611/willow-baker/results/

From her international results in 2025 we recently learnt that she has qualified to enter all World Cups this year! It is set to get harder and harder to gain entry into the competition so she needs to really give a few World Cups ago this year, it will be a huge challenge but one she is so excited for.

Hear from the rider directly about what this dream means to her :

Hey, I’m Willow, a 16-year-old downhill mountain biker with one big dream: to race World Cups professionally and do what I love most whilst traveling the world competing at the highest level of the sport!

Between college and work I spend my time training, riding, racing, and trying to improve as much as I can. Every training session, race weekend, and hour spent on the bike is focused on improving and pushing closer to my goal of becoming a professional downhill racer. I’m committed to working as hard as possible to make that dream a reality.

I’m incredibly grateful to already have support from sponsors who provide my bike, equipment, and riding kit. However, even competing at National races across the UK comes with big expenses so you can imagine how much international events cost with expenses such as accommodation, race entries, coaching, traveling by road, ferry, flights, car hire to get to the events where experience and results matter most.

That’s why I’m starting this GoFundMe.

Every kind donation will help me continue racing, gain valuable experience at higher-level events, and take the next steps to being able to compete and perform better at the World Cups. Your support will help open opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be possible and allow me to focus fully on training and racing.

Unfortunately British Cycling no longer support the downhill discipline with a mechanic or mentor at events.

Thank you so much for taking the time to support my journey, every bit of support genuinely means the world to me, even if you can't donate financially, sharing this would help.

I’ll be sharing updates, race results, and progress along the way on my instagram and tiktok @will0wbaker, and I’m grateful for everyone who believes in me and my dream. ❤️