Many who have followed my journey know about the successes, the wins, the records, but there remains a story that I haven’t told enough. There are only two reasons that I am where and who I am today as an athlete and human being. First and foremost, I serve a God who has helped me to rise above so much pain, loss, and adversity in my life. And equally as important, He has surrounded me with the most incredible people to navigate life’s peaks and valleys.

Sometimes our greatest challenge is building the courage to start. I’ve gotten to countless start lines because of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. I grew up paralyzed by fear, embarrassed to be an amputee and ashamed of my story. I never once thought that someone who was burned in a fire, lived 7 years as an orphan in China, and faced with a rocky upbringing here in America was destined to do great things in this world. A childhood of largely marginalized experiences left me deflated and discouraged about my future. Truthfully, I did not think I belonged anywhere. When I wasn’t sitting on the sidelines of soccer fields or basketball courts, I occupied my time by reading every political memoir or biography from John Adams to Ronald Reagan by 7^th grade! Oh did I mention I was/am a complete dork??

My breakthrough came in 2002 when a single piece of equipment (an Össur running leg) that I received through a CAF grant, changed me from the inside out. I ran for the first time at 14 years old and I haven’t stopped since. Running became a healing power in my life and transformed me from a painfully shy recluse to a young woman with confidence, passion, and drive. I made a vow to myself that I would never be ashamed of my story or who I am and from that moment on, I set out to run down every dream and conquer every fear and every struggle. I no longer wanted to merely exist, but found my calling in living to serve and help others fulfill their purpose. Yes a single piece of adaptive sports equipment changed the way I thought and lived!

My first time running – ever!

You may hear a thousand “Nos” but it only takes one “Yes” to change your life. If you have a dream or a goal, apply for a CAF Access for Athletes grant and make it happen! Perhaps your dream is to run around with your kids or maybe you want to be the next Paralympic champion – whatever your vision is, it all starts HERE. Let nothing stop you from doing what you love and loving what you do.

They say it’s not what you have, but who you have in life that counts. I do life with the best team in the world – my family, friends, coach, mentors, role models, mentees, and supporters. Truly it is this ‘A Team’ that keeps my heart beating. If you are reading this, I thank you for believing in me even when I did not believe in myself, for lifting me up when I’ve fallen, and for teaching me to live courageously.

I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize that on this Thanksgiving, I am immensely grateful for my CAF family and supporters who took me from nothing to something. If you’ve ever wondered whether or not your efforts have made a difference in this world, I can assure you that you have done just that and so much more. My story is possible because of YOU! There are no words to adequately express my appreciation, but I hope this is a start: Thank you for allowing me to live a life beyond my dreams.

With love and gratitude,

SB

The post How One Piece of Equipment Changed My Life appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

At CAF’s Operation Rebound program, we work daily to make sure our injured military have the support and equipment necessary for them to return to the warrior they once were, and still are within. Your support helps us get injured military personnel like Brad Snyder from the frontline to the finish line.

Veterans Day Featured Athlete: Brad Snyder

“We can’t choose the challenges we will face, we can only choose how we will face each challenge.  We can choose to face them with courage.  We can choose to be resilient, and to never back down.” 

Brad Snyder was an accomplished swimmer during his younger years in St. Petersburg, Florida, so much so that he eventually became captain of the swim team at the U.S. Naval Academy. Little did Brad know that swimming would one day be a form of rehabilitation for him.

In September of 2011, Snyder was in Afghanistan when an IED explosion permanently blinded him. Snyder soon realized that his life would forever be changed. But not completely changed. He still had swimming. “The pool wasn’t anything I necessarily had to adapt to,” he said. Snyder chose swimming as not only a form of personal rehabilitation, but as a way of showing his loved ones that he would be able to retain some normalcy in his life—that he would be OK. Snyder quickly exceled in para-swimming. Within one year of his injury, Snyder won two gold medals and a silver at the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Recently, he was selected to represent the United States at the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships. He’s not done, though. Snyder would like to go to the 2016 Paralympics as a triathlete, and he also competes in track. “Hopefully,” he says, “my performance will inspire people to adopt a positive outlook and face challenges with a lot of courage and virtue.”

Brad winning the Gold at the 2012 Paralympics

Brad and his swim guide competing at the 2014 San Diego Triathlon Challenge with CAF!

The post Veterans Day Featured Athlete: Brad Snyder appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Join us for a LIVE Q&A session on Facebook and Twitter to answer your questions about CAF’s Access for Athletes Grant Application process. 

The 2015 Access for Athletes Grant Application is only open for ONE MORE MONTH, and it is imperative that all applicants complete and submit their applications before 12/5 at 5 p.m. PST.

If you have a physical disability that is recognized within the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) classifications, you are eligible to apply. CAF does not discriminate based on age, gender, level of ability or sport, but does require applicants to demonstrate a clear financial need for their grant request.

Access for Athletes is CAF’s flagship program — and steps in where rehabilitation and health insurance end by providing funding grants for equipment such as sports wheelchairs, handcycles, mono skis and sports prosthetics, and resources for training and competition expenses. Access for Athletes surmounts financial impediments to participation in sports, ensuring that challenged athletes are not left on the sidelines because they can’t afford expensive equipment or training costs. CAF believes participation in sports not only increases physical fitness and activity levels, but also enhances confidence and self-esteem.

In an effort to help answer some of your questions about how to apply for a grant, CAF will be hosting a LIVE social media Q&A session on Wednesday, November 5th. 
From 4 to 5 p.m. PST on 11/5, CAF staff members will be on hand to answer grantee questions on CAF’s Facebook and Twitter pages. 

HOW TO JOIN: 
RSVP to the Facebook event here
Any time before or during the event, submit your questions any of the following ways:
FACEBOOK:
– Post on the Facebook event page
– Comment on CAF’s announcement post on our Facebook timeline

TWITTER: Tweet @CAFoundation and include the hashtag #CAFGrantQA

You will receive “real time” responses from CAF between 4PM and 5PM on November 5.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE Q&A:
Please read the Frequently Asked Questions on our website at www.challengedathletes.org/GrantFAQ before the Q&A to see if your question has already been answered and to get an idea of what type of questions you would like to ask. Here are some suggested questions:

1. Who can write my medical reference letter, and what should it say?
2. How long should my biography be?
3. What if I want to go to multiple competitions throughout the year?
4. What is the equipment item I want is not in the dropdown list?
5. What is included in a coaching/training grant?

Remember, you can start submitting your questions NOW!

The post CAF 2015 Grant Application Live Q&A Event appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

The weekend began with a grant presentation at NIKETOWN Boston, where CAF, Össur, Next Step Bionics and Prosthetics and the Knights of Columbus came together to present Boston Marathon survivor Heather Abbott with her first running foot! The brand-new Össur Flex-Run was passed down a line of CAF athletes in a stirring example of our passionate belief in “paying it forward.” Five other individuals who lost legs during the tragic events of April 15 were in attendance to celebrate with Heather.

Even the rain on Sunday couldn’t dampen the spirits of our clinic’s participants. Nearly 50 athletes, ranging in age from two to 70, received world-class coaching and training from renowned experts Dr. Bob Gailey and Peter Harsch. The athletes learned how to maximize their prosthetic’s capabilities both for sports and for everyday life.

Four-year-old Braylon O’Neil had just received his new legs two days earlier, but you would never have guessed it to watch him kick that soccer ball!

Dr. Bob Gailey worked with the newer athletes, teaching them gait training and proper running techniques to improve speed and balance. Pete Harsch worked with the more advanced athletes to improve their performance.  Experienced mentors including CAF’s own Travis Ricks, Sarah Reinertsen and Jami Marseilles demonstrated skills that they have developed in their athletic careers, while younger athletes like Breezy Bochenek and Brendan Driscoll provided motivation with their non-stop energy.

Ret. USMC Sgt. Gabe Martinez lost both of his legs to an IED in Afghanistan on Thanksgiving Day, 2010 and volunteered to visit the Boston survivors while they were still in the hospital. He has been a source of constant support to Celeste Corcoran and her daughter Sydney, and it was truly heart-warming to see him assisting Celeste up and down the field. Having a mentor with a similar disability is invaluable for individuals who are newly injured or are newly participating in sports.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this weekend possible, from the sponsors to the volunteers to the coaches. And, as always, our biggest thank you goes to the athletes who inspire us each and every day. The weekend once again validated Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman’s maxim: If you have a body, you are an athlete.

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE IMPRESSIVE MEDIA COVERAGE FROM THE CLINIC:

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
Boston marathon amputees make strides toward recovery
It’s been six months since the Boston Marathon terrorist attack that killed three and wounded many others. Now, some of the survivors are lacing up with the aid of prosthetic limbs and trying to regain their footing in life. NBC’s Lester Holt and Brian Williams reports.

WATCH THE SEGMENT FROM SUNDAY, 10/6: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/53204436/#53204436

WATCH THE SEGMENT FROM MONDAY, 10/7: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032619/#53212597

USA TODAY
Boston Marathon survivor finds inspiration
Abbott was one of about 50 amputees taking part in the clinic at Harvard University. The participants included other survivors from the bombings on April 15 and ranged widely in age and ability, some struggling through the early adjustment and learning process of being mobile once again through the use of a prosthetic leg or even two… Friends and family members watched and joined in the loud cheers of encouragement throughout the event, which was run by the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2013/10/06/challenged-athletes-foundation-boston-marathon-clinic/2933505/

ABC NEWS
Boston Bombing Victims Learning to Run Again (coverage of AP story)
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/boston-bombing-victims-learning-run-20488479

NECN NEWS
Boston Marathon survivors attend running and mobility clinic
More than 60 amputees, including Boston Marathon survivors and injured military, will learn how to run – or run better – at the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Össur Leg Amputee Running and Mobility Clinic in Boston on Oct. 6…
http://www.necn.com/10/06/13/Boston-Marathon-survivors-attend-running/landing.html?blockID=854421&feedID=11106

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (AP Story)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/track_field/wires/10/06/2080.ap.ath.boston.marathon.amputees.1st.ld.writethru.1353/

AP
Boston bombing victims learning to run again

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Celeste Corcoran, in her yellow “Boston Strong” hat, navigated her way across the artificial turf on her artificial legs, a volunteer on each arm to keep her upright.

One of her assistants had a pair of prosthetics of his own.

“Normally you walk around and you see everybody with two legs. Especially in the summertime – all you see is legs,” Corcoran said, pausing to choke back tears. “It’s easy to miss yours.

“But when I see everybody here walking and running, it’s OK,” she said after a running clinic for victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and other amputees. “I just want to be able to do the things that I did before. … So many people have my back, I feel like I can do it. I’m trying my hardest to enjoy being alive.”… Organized by the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which helps amputees and others with disabilities participate in sports, the clinic brought together marathon victims, those wounded in the military and other amputees. Coach Bob Gailey ran them through a series of increasingly complicated drills, then lined them up for an obstacle course that was the highlight of the day.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ATH_BOSTON_MARATHON_AMPUTEES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

FOX BOSTON (AP Story)
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/23622091/2013/10/06/boston-bombing-victims-learning-to-run-again

CBS Boston (AP Story)
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/10/06/harvard-clinic-helping-boston-marathon-bombing-amputees/

The post Changing Lives: Boston Strong appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

What’s more impressive—being a successful triathlete on one foot, or doing it at the age of 13?  Iowa native Jessica Heims is both, and with the aid of a Cheetah Blade shows no sign of slowing down.  Born with a stunted right leg and deformed foot, amputation was necessary for a healthy child.  Simply “healthy” became an understatement when Jessica joined a local track club to follow in the footsteps of her older sister.  Soon after, Jessica became connected with Challenged Athletes Foundation and found herself at her first Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge.

Against her parents’ wishes for her to run only 3 of the 12 mile running portion and 400 meters of the mile swim, Jessica “accidentally” completed the entire swim before running 9 of the 12 mile course.  The experience led Jessica to compete in the Pigman Sprint Triathlon, crowning her debut with a first place finish in her division by an astounding ten minutes.

As a growing youth, Jessica’s collection of prosthetics is already at 18, but the constant adjustment is worth proving to anyone who sees her run that she can run.  Constant growth spurts and the uneven terrain of cross country courses has left her injury prone and created another challenge to adapt and overcome.  Jessica has made it evident though; she’s not here to run, she’s here to win.  “Half the reason I do this stuff is to prove them wrong.” She says, “I like being able to beat them.”

Jessica hopes to continue her running career throughout high school and develop into a Paralympic candidate.  She also hopes to be able to run in every state as she continues to disprove misconceptions and advocate for disabilities.  CAF is proud to provide her with training and travel grants as she prepares to tackle the Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge again this year.

The post Athlete Spotlight: Jessica Heims appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Amy Dixon, also known as the “Blind Sommelier” (wine expert) is a para-athlete from the Northeast of the United States.  Amy started losing her sight in college due to a rare form of Uveitis, which progressed slowly until 5 years ago, when it robbed her of most of her remaining sight.  Amy did not let that stop her- she continued to pursue her passions as a professional equestrian, tennis enthusiast, and skier, with a few 5Ks thrown in for good measure. Through a friend, Amy rediscovered her love of swimming and started competing in triathlons as a para-athlete. She has since been on the podium several times, and participated in both USA Paratriathlon and CAF Camps, and is headed to Nationals and the ITU Race this year in Chicago.  Triathlon changed Amy’s life and thanks to CAF, a whole new world has been opened up to her. We are excited to see Amy tackle her next race!  

18 Challenged Athletes spent four action-packed days in a whirlwind of lectures, gait analysis, stroke analysis, swim training and all-out racing in the presence of some of the greatest triathlon coaches and elite athlete mentors in the world.  But what they will take away with them forever is the inspiration and sheer joy of seeing other disabled athletes break through barriers they had mentally set for themselves and come out on the other side successful and triumphant.

Each individual had their story of a terrible injury – drunk drivers, distracted drivers, boating accidents, brain tumors, chemo patients, sniper fire and things too horrific to think about.  Each told their stories to each other as a form of introduction and then it was immediately forgotten.  The people before us were not injured in each other’s eyes.  We were athletes.  We were there to learn, and train, get better and compete with the best of the best in our sport.  Though some of us were missing limbs, and missing eyesight, for four days we were whole.

It was recently announced that Paratriathlon will be an official sport at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, and many of these young athletes have their sights set on Olympic Gold.  This was the opportunity of a lifetime for each athlete to learn from Elite Masters’ Swim Coach and Ironman John Murray, Kona Ironman Champions and finishers Carlos Moleda, Peter Harsch and Mark Sortino.  Mark also is coaching the current US National Team.

Saturday was a 30 mile bike ride assigned for the morning session, followed by a track session in the afternoon.  Some athletes rode single bikes with their prosthetic legs, some were on tandems, and others rode the giant hills using their handcycles.  After the training ride, it was off to a local high school track to learn how to run more efficiently, with a higher cadence while developing a sense of pacing.   Seminars were held about racing, nutrition, and the USAT rules of paratriathlon.

Sunday morning the athletes were put to the test in an open water swim in La Jolla Cove.  They learned how to dolphin dive out into the waves to increase their speed during a beach entry, and swam back and forth along some buoys working on rhythm and relaxation in the turbulent water.

The final test of camp put two of triathlon’s speed events back to back in a Triple Duathlon, where the athletes would complete three laps of cycling 1/3 mile, followed by one lap running, and repeated 3 times at their all-out race effort pace. It was awe-inspiring to see men and women who had suffered terrible injuries, amputations, and illnesses less than 12 short months ago, conquering the course and crossing the finish line.  THANK YOU to the coaches, guides, mentors and volunteers who made this camp a huge success. And to all the challenged athletes that we trained and raced with this weekend, THANK YOU for sharing your stories and allowing us to be a part of your journey.

The post Amy Dixon Talks CAF Paratri Camp appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

The 2014 Access for Athletes grant application is new and improved and ready for you. We have streamlined our application to make it easier for you as an athlete and more efficient for us. We have recently updated our Frequently Asked Questions to reflect the changes for the new online application. Check it out here!

Please remember – grants are open until December 1, giving you three months to complete your application. You can log in and update your application as many times as you would like until you hit ‘SUBMIT.’

Last year we gave over $2 million in grants to over 1,100 athletes, from Paralympians to weekend warriors and everything in between. Where will your CAF grant take you?

If you have any questions that are not answered in our FAQ please contact Carolyn Odom at 858-210-3506 or carolyn@challengedathletes.org.

We look forward to reading your application!

The post Access for Athletes Grant Application Now Open appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

Ask an opponent on the court how Chuck Aoki is different and they’ll mention his tremendous speed that carries him from goal line to goal line.  They’ll talk about his overwhelming strength allowing him to hop his chair over double teams as he sets his sights on victory alone.

Chuck Aoki is one of the most dominant wheelchair rugby players in the world, and at 23, will stay there for a very long time.

Growing up in Minnesota, a young Chuck would often be playing on broken legs; a lack of feeling would lead to the child stomping too hard as he ran, and his lack of sensation meant that he was unaware that anything was wrong. This progression to a wheelchair only led him to a successful wheelchair basketball career where he led his junior team to back to back national titles.

An introduction to rugby through the documentary Murderball started his journey into a climb to the top, marked by his international debut at the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in 2010, followed by his first Paralympic showing in 2012.  Already a veteran, Chuck has a long career ahead of him as a leader and reckoning force on the court.

Chuck Aoki has won a Bronze at the 2012 London Paralympics and Gold at World Championships in 2010, Zonals in 2011, and most recently 2013.  Through CAF funding, Chuck was able to lead the Minnesota North Stars to a 2^nd place finish at Division I Nationals behind the Portland Pounders.  He hopes one day to be a high school teacher after his rugby career is over. He is also a blogger for the Paralympic Committee – http://www.paralympic.org/blog/chuck-aoki-does-inspire-connote-heroic-or-pitiable

The post Athlete Spotlight: Chuck Aoki, Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Player appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

My legs aren’t too fond of me these days. Living with quadriplegia gave me a new appreciation of the human physique’s versatility; all the tasks carried out by different muscles were suddenly delegated to only a quarter of my body.  My rotator cuffs are now ACLs, my biceps, hamstrings.  A low slung seat and girdle substitute my paralyzed trunk, perched between two wheels cambered wide to allow for high speed turns.  The transformation from my everyday chair to my rugby chair is startling.

It’s hard to explain to my able-bodied friends the draw of rugby; it’s certainly easy for them to “get” that it’s a cool and fun way to continue my love for competition, but to really “get” it requires a deeper explanation.

I remember the first time I got a real bike.  It was a 21 speed mountain bike with 26” wheels, an impressive upgrade from what I had been terrorizing my neighborhood on.  At ten years old, I had to jump just to get on the seat, but my father promised I’d grow into it.  I felt like I was riding a motorcycle.  Being able to gear up and conquer hills with ease made me feel powerful and fast—pedaling furiously to barely make headway on any ground while my brother effortlessly glided around quickly became a distant memory.  My world exploded, yielding exciting new territories behind hills that previously served as impenetrable gates.

There is a marriage of sorts between a disabled athlete and their equipment.  The best track and field amputee will never be competitive without prosthetics tailored to their height and weight.  A rugby chair that does not compensate for a lack of trunk muscles in a player leaves them a sitting duck while their opponent cuts and leaves them in the dust.  The days of playing soccer barefoot in the park are gone.  We must not only train to maximize our potential, but also trust in the integrity of our gear and its ability to carry us as far as we have prepared.  Conversely, it is impossible for an athlete to ever realize what they can achieve if they’re never given the opportunity.

This is where Challenged Athletes Foundation helped pick up my life from the aftermath of a tragic accident.  Being the strongest or the fastest takes hard work.  Through CAF, the right to work hard is no longer denied to the disabled.  With steep medical fees that haunt the disabled for a lifetime, a grant to fund athletic equipment becomes a beacon of hope and a reminder that something better is attainable.  I had no idea I could be fast or strong again.  I just wanted to go to a rugby practice to take my mind off being crippled.

Jeff Odom, a mentor for CAF, happened to be the first person I met.  An experienced and accomplished athlete, he took me under his wing immediately, opting to sit out the entire practice so I could try out his rugby chair.  Suddenly, I was turning on a dime, able to reach both arms above my head to catch passes, and push the length of the court in a blink of an eye.  I was actually quite awful, but after spending months in a bulky hospital chair, I felt like an Olympic sprinter.  At the end of practice, Jeff offered to be my mentor through a CAF program (Project N.Ex.T.) which would help fund a rugby chair of my own.  The same feeling I received from my first bike resurfaced, a powerful and uplifting contrast from the depression I suffered from being paralyzed.  I started to notice that there were quads with broad shoulders and heavily muscled arms that could not be described by any other word than simply, “athletic”.  These were physiques impossible to develop by merely sitting around all day.

I get my speed fix now by hopping into my rugby chair, gunning around nearby trails and hills with just my arms.  It’s been about two years since the last time I walked.  I figured all the years I spent in the weight room were wasted now that I was condemned to a life of being sickly and frail, but here I am, living independently and chasing a dream with a new set of “legs” strong enough to overcome any hill in my path.

Illustration by James Sa in honor of his 1 year “quadriversary”

The post How Fast Can You Run Without Legs? The Importance of Proper Equipment for Disabled Athletes appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.

I recently got back from ITU (International Triathlon Union) World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand.  What a trip!  I was fortunate to be Head Coach (along with Hector Torres) of USA Triathlon’s Paratriathlon Team.  This event is held each year in different locations around the world (last year was Beijing, China and next year is London, Great Britain).  This year Team USA had 31 Paratriathletes compete – our largest showing yet – which was pretty exciting.  Official national and international race distances for Paratriathlon are 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and a 5-kilometer run.  This is essentially a “Sprint” distance triathlon.

Due to the amount of traveling required to get to Auckland, most of us arrived 7 days prior in order to have enough time for our bodies to adjust to time zone and the extensive travel.  The team stayed together for most training sessions each day along with a nightly meeting recapping day and passing new or updated information on.

Along with the athletes were some family members, friends and a few other coaches (it was great having all that help and support!) Truly, it was a great experience for everyone spending time with each other and focusing on getting ready for the big event.

What struck me was the number of “CAF Athletes” there.  I counted 29 out of the 31 athletes had received assistance from CAF in one form or another.  Some athletes received grants for adaptive equipment, coaching or racing.  Others had participated in our Dodge CAF

Paratriathlon Camps or in CAF Össur Leg Amputee Running and Mobility Clinics.  In most cases, these athletes got their start in this sport due to CAF.  Looking around the room I saw athletes who I remember coaching at a CAF camps years ago.  Some of those athletes got on a bike for the first time while others were just learning how to run on their new prosthetic leg.  Now I was about to watch them compete at the highest level on a world stage.  It was immensely impressive to see what a direct impact CAF had on all these athletes’ lives.

Team USA did well on race day earning 13 total medals.  Now that Paratriathlon has become a Paralympic sport, all athletes are beginning to focus on the Olympic event in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.  I have a strong suspicion that many will be watching those athletes on TV in four years and will be saying, “Hey, they were at our CAF camp!”

The post Full Circle: ITU Auckland appeared first on Challenged Athletes Foundation.