Challenged Athletes Foundation

Did you know that the viewership of the Paralympic Games has seen a significant increase over the years? The 2016 Rio Paralympics attracted a cumulative TV audience of over 4.1 billion in more than 150 countries. US viewership of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics showed nearly double Rio's numbers! CAF is proud to be a part of the movement thats fueling the future of inclusivity and equality in sport.

CAF and Intuit embrace the power of sport and movement in our everyday lives, so we created an adaptive sports experience for Intuit employees to celebrate the 2024 Summer Games in Paris! Intuit employees got to try their hand at wheelchair basketball and meet multiple CAF athlete ambassadors. Together, we are providing opportunities for athletes to experience possibility through sport.

Join us at the Heroes, Heart, & Hope Gala and meet remarkable athletes, learn their stories, and feel their passion. See how CAF opens a world of opportunities to those with physical disabilities.

challengedathletes.org/2024hhh

Event Co-Chairs: Emily & Scott Stackman
Honoree: Alan Mnuchin

Did you know the Paralympic Games are one of the few international sporting events to have almost complete gender equality in terms of the number of events for male and female athletes?

Friday Flashback to TOYOTA Sport Court's spontaneous wheelchair conga line at CAF’s Community Challenge!

Fun fact: The longest moving line of wheelchairs was at an event organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India. It consisted of 400 people.

Happy National Pickleball Day! CAF and CityPickle recently held a pickleball clinic in Central Park at the iconic Wollman Rink NYC! Sports chairs were provided for those who needed them, and top-notch instructors helped athletes refine their skills and elevate their game.

It’s Purple Heart Day! Today we honor all of the CAF athletes who have been awarded the Purple Heart, including Michael Spivey. Michael was a combat engineer in the Marine Corps, doing a combat deployment to Iraq in 2007-08 and one in 2010 to Afghanistan, where he was hit by IED and lost his left arm below the elbow. In 2011, Michael began surfing at CAF's weekly surf clinic!

“Surfing and snowboarding are my passions," he says. "Both were critical to helping me get back in shape after my injury and both remain essential to my overall well-being.”

The joys of cycling and camaraderie unite in scenic Ojai for CAF’s Women’s Cycling Retreat, October 6-9. Join us as you foster friendships and celebrate your support for athletes with physical disabilities.

Make a Profound Impact. Secure your spot in this Epic CAF Cycling Challenge ride! challengedathletes.org/cycling

It's National Sisters' Day! Here's to all the sisters (plus friendly competitors + community members who've become like sisters) who help CAF athletes get their reps in, put in the practice, hit the mat and stay fit in ALL their favorite sports!

The Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse facilities are getting tons of use! The first day on the wall earlier this summer, some of our talented athletes got to learn the ropes with help from Paradox Sports .

Rock on, man! 🤘

CAF recently partnered up with San Diego State University Adaptive Athletics and the MESA Foundation for a wheelchair basketball clinic at the Jeff Jacobs JAM Center, the official practice and performance facility for SDSU men's and women's basketball!

Did you know the Paralympic Games have been a driving force behind many innovations in sports technology, particularly in prosthetics and wheelchair design, helping athletes achieve peak performances? CAF’s grant programs provide this type of equipment, helping remove barriers that exist between athletes with disabilities and their pursuit of sport.

CAF-Idaho recently wrapped up the 2024 Mountain Biking Basecamp Program! Thanks to the generous support of 100Percent, each of the athletes received essential gear including sunglasses and helmets, ensuring they were ready to ride through Idaho’s beautiful terrain.

In honor of International Friendship Day, we want to remind you that CAF’s partner EōS Fitness offers a free membership in select locations to eligible individuals with physical disability - and this includes an opportunity for athletes to bring a FRIEND or family member with them!

challengedathletes.org/eos_fitness_grants/

Did you know that from the original 8 sports at the 1960 Games, the summer Paralympics have expanded to include 22 sports from archery to badminton? CAF proudly provides grants for over 100 sports, empowering athletes with disabilities to pursue their dreams and achieve greatness on and off the field.

CAF Operation Rebound athlete Jakob Kepka was recently featured in Thrive4Amps! A veteran of the Canadian Army Reserves and the United States Marine Corps, he’s pedaling 900 kilometers from Krakow to Kyiv to raise awareness for war amputees in Ukraine.

Listen to his podcast about the experience at thrivemag.ca/podcasts/podcast-guests/jakob-kepta

CAF recently celebrated Disability Pride Month with Accenture! The company joined CAF athletes and founder Bob Babbitt to learn about Operation Rebound and enjoy a mindful seated yoga session. They then got to hear an inspirational talk by two-time Paralympic Champion and wheelchair basketball world champion Steve Serio, who advocates for the power of sports for all.

It’s National Disability Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. On this date in 1990, the United States created the world's first comprehensive declaration of equality to increase access, equity, and opportunity for people with disabilities. 🇺🇸❤️️

It's National Intern Day, established to celebrate and recognize future leaders of the world! CAF Intern Natalie began volunteering with us at just 11 years old, continuing her involvement ever since. CAF Intern Brennan was introduced to CAF because his mom is CEO Kristine Entwistle, and CAF has been a large part of his life since he was young. We appreciate all that they do!

CAF proudly supports Paralympians in Paris!

CAF’s Operation Rebound Senior Manager Nico Marcolongo has been doing TONS of outreach this summer, including appearances at the Long Beach VA Sports Expo and a VA Summer Sports Clinic Collaboration to keep spreading the word about CAF’s support of the military and first responder community. Here he is with Jesse Williamson and Patrick Woodruff at a golf tournament courtesy of Cox!

CAF and Bridgestone recently hosted an inclusive adaptive sports Field Day in Nashville, providing an opportunity for community members to try adaptive sports and team building opportunities. 10 seniors from the Tennessee School for the Blind were given grants to help them participate in a ski weekend!

As a freshman with dwarfism swimming at La Costa Canyon High School, 15-year-old Sebastian Desposato (“Sebi”) became the 2024 CIF State Champion in the 50 Free Para! Long-time CAF photographer Donald Miralle happens to be the school swim coach, and guided Sebi over the course of 3 months to drop a whopping 16 seconds off his 100 free! CAF is thrilled to have supported Sebastian’s journey and eagerly anticipates his future accomplishments!

challengedathletes.org/sebi-donald-adventure