award winners
Jim MacLaren Award Winners:
Most Inspirational Athlete:
Rising Star Award Winner:
Sempra Energy Trailblazer Award:
Terry Davis
Jim MacLaren Award Winner
Presented to the individuals who have made the most significant contributions towards the mission of CAF.
In 1983, Terry Davis was planning a bluegrass festival with a 10K run to help promote Lake San Antonio in Monterey County, California. A friend suggested incorporating a new sport involving a swim, bike and run. Eighty-six racers showed up that year to contest the first Wildflower triathlon. It turned out to be a pretty good call.
Today, Wildflower is known as triathlon’s “Woodstock,” with more than 8,000 athletes and four times as many spectators descending upon Lake San Antonio each year to compete in its three races (long-course, international, mountain bike) and soak in a triathlon experience unlike any other.
In 1994, Terry and his wife Betsy founded Tri-California Events, with an expanded A-list race portfolio including the Accenture Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Scott Tinley’s Adventures, the Pacific Grove Triathlon and the Treasure Island International Triathlon. Davis wanted his events to be something more – he sought to deliver a rich, memorable, family-friendly experience to each participant. Formally incorporating challenged athletes fit well with that vision, and after a 2001 conversation with CAF Executive Director Virginia Tinley, Davis invited CAF to become an official charity of the Tri-Cal series.
“We founded Tri-California about the same time CAF was founded,” says Davis. “We started to see challenged athletes at our events and put two and two together. We figured getting the word out to athletes and media at our events was one way we could help.”
Since then, CAF athletes and spokespersons like Willie Stewart, Sarah Reinertsen, Rudy Garcia-Tolson and David Rozelle, among many others, have been given an unprecedented platform to spread CAF’s message of heroes, hope and heart to new audiences at Tri-California events. CAF athletes and their stories have been featured regularly on the nationally syndicated “Accenture Escape from Alcatraz” television show. Participating CAF athletes at Tri-California races are highlighted in the event program and treated like rock stars. The Tri-California partnership also has been instrumental to the success of CAF’s Race for a Reason fundraising initiative.
“I have many great memories of CAF athletes at our events,” says Davis. “I guess one of the most memorable was when [visually impaired athlete] Heidi Musser came running up the swim ramp at her first Wildflower triathlon panting and crying with excitement, with a big smile on her face. Another great memory was the first time I saw Rudy Garcia-Tolson and heard his story. It was so inspiring to see what he was willing to do to lead an active lifestyle.”
CAF thanks Terry, his wife Betsy, his daughter Colleen, her husband Matt and the entire Tri-Cal family for their contributions to our mission and we look forward to continued collaboration in the future. “CAF athletes are such an inspiration to everyone,” says Davis. “God has a plan for everyone’s life and it is up to us to make the very most of every minute we have on earth.”
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Carlos Moleda
Most Inspirational Athlete
Given to the athlete who never ceases to inspire those around him/her through strength, athleticism, ability and true dedication to the CAF mission.
It is often said that finish lines are little more than new beginnings. This is especially true for the 2007 CAF Most Inspirational Athlete Carlos Moleda, who after setting a course record in Kona at the 2005 Ford Ironman World Championship promptly retired from competition. But this four-time Ironman Handcycle Division World Champion has hardly slowed down. Now, it is his gifts as a role-model and motivator that are making a major impact. Carlos is a fixture at CAF clinics around country, helping disabled kids (and adults) become better athletes – whether they’re riding around the block or making a run at his Kona time.
“By exposing athletes to big mainstream events like the Iron Man, people all over the world get to see challenged athletes competing at a high level,” says Moleda. “I feel the future will be very exciting with more and more challenged athletes being included in all sports and getting the recognition they deserve... as athletes.”
Carlos grew up in São Paulo, Brazil. At age 18, he moved to the United States, hoping to become the next Tony Hawk. Eventually, he joined the U.S. Navy, where his ability to work hard and learn fast won him a coveted spot as a Navy SEAL (Out of 130 who started in his class at the grueling Basic Underwater Demolition School [BUDS], Carlos was one of only 11 to graduate.)
A few years later, he found himself in the middle of an intense firefight in Panama. Nine of the 10 men in his unit were wounded – four fatally. Carlos was hit near his spine and leg, and lost feeling in his lower body forever. Competitive sports proved to be the best way to recover from this traumatic injury. His injury and rehabilitation give Carlos a unique understanding and perspective to pass on to the injured military personnel participating in CAF’s Operation Rebound program.
According to Moleda, “physical activity is a must for anyone with a recent injury (veteran or not). It provides empowerment over the challenges they face. It re-enforces the self-belief that they can still do great things.”
Through an unyielding spirit and a passion for competition, Carlos turned his misfortune into his greatest adventure: becoming a champion. Beyond his Ironman exploits, Carlos is a winner of the 367-mile Sadler’s Ultra Challenge handcycle race in Alaska and a two-time U.S. National Handcycling Champion.
“CAF has opened the doors to a world that wasn't available to many people with a disability here in the United States and around the world,” says Moleda. “I feel privileged and thankful to be able to be part of CAF as a sponsored athlete, spokesperson and a mentor.”
No, Carlos. It is CAF that is privileged to have you on our team. We are honored to recognize you as our 2007 Most Inspirational Athlete.
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hasaan hawthorne
Rising Star Award Winner
Given annually to a young athlete who has demonstrated commitment, dedication and focus to meet an athletic goal.
Hasaan Hawthorne was born on January 28, 1998, with a condition known as tibial hemimilia (no shin bones in both legs). After only four months, his parents, Felecia and Demond Hawthorne, made the decision to have doctors amputate both legs through the knees. It was an extremely trying time for his worried parents, but this was the only opportunity they had to provide a “normal” life for their son, meaning Hasaan would be able to run, walk and sit at a desk like the other children at school. Hasaan was a trooper through the whole process (multiple surgeries) and still managed to play and smile.
When Hasaan was three-years-old, he attended his first ever disabled sports event, the Endeavor Games. This was the first time he saw other amputees like himself running, swimming and playing team sports. It was a life-changing moment for the young man. The encouragement, sense of belonging and competitive spirit that he gained from this experience opened his eyes to a whole new world of opportunities – sports. He started playing baseball at age five and then returned to the Endeavor Games at age seven to win two gold medals.
In 2005, Hasaan was introduced to the Challenged Athletes Foundation by his prosthetist at Hanger. He attended the Sempra Energy San Diego Triathlon Challenge and became part of the “Magnificent Seven” – a group of seven bilateral amputee boys. Later that year he applied for an Access for Athlete grant, and in 2006 was awarded a pair of Ossur Jr. Flex Runs running feet.
Hasaan’s Mom Felecia says, “The [CAF] grant impacted his life because the running legs fulfilled his desire to “be fast” and find freedom. He became more agile in the outfield and could get to the baseballs quicker. His track times became faster, and he’s learning discipline as an athlete that would not be as effective if he continued to compete in his walking legs.”
According to Hasaan, his favorite part of competing in sports “is the fun of it and meeting new friends.”
Most recently, Hasaan’s baseball team won their Spring championship, and he reached a personal goal when he was awarded a total of eight gold medals for track & field and swimming events at the Endeavor Games. His drive and commitment to practice have made him a standout athlete. CAF is proud to recognize Hasaan Hawthorne as the 2007 Rising Star Award winner.
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ryan levinson
Sempra Energy Trailblazer Award
Given to a challenged athlete who demonstrates courage, commitment, and leadership – not only in their personal performance, but also in opening doors for others.
When people first meet Ryan Levinson they often do not realize he is a challenged athlete. He is not missing a limb, using a wheelchair, or racing with a guide to help him see. Instead, this world-class triathlete is the first person in history to compete at a championship level despite being ravaged by FSHMD (Muscular Dystrophy), a progressive degenerative muscle wasting disease.
Ryan was diagnosed with MD in 1996 when he noticed some of his muscles rapidly disappearing. Since then, his disease has progressed to the point where he can now no longer hold his arms above his head, do a sit-up, pull-up, or push-up. He has lost major muscles in his chest, arms, back, abdominals, and legs. As his disease progresses, he may become too weak to even close his eyes or move his lips into a smile.
There is no treatment and no cure. No matter how hard Ryan trains he will continue to loose strength and ability. Yet rather than give up, Ryan continues to race with passion and he thrives on inspiring other people to do the same. His motto says it best, “You can’t always choose what happens to you, but you can choose what you do about it.”
This year alone Ryan helped develop and implement the new Physically Challenged divisions for off-road triathlons. He is the current chair of USA Triathlon’s Physically Challenged Rules and Logistics Subcommittee. He serves as the XTERRA Physically Challenged “Ambassador”, reaching out to help challenged athletes discover triathlon. He acts as a spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes Foundation regularly giving guest lectures at colleges, speaking to schoolchildren, and presenting to local groups. He even makes his living as the first disabled Emergency Medical Technician to run 911 emergency calls with alongside the San Diego Fire Department.
Over the past two years, Ryan has competed in over 20 triathlons and bike races with 15 podium finishes. He is the current was the 2006 XTERRA USA Champion and has twice placed 2nd at the World Championships. All the while he has lost nearly 15 pounds of muscle due to his degenerative disease. Even still, Ryan remains competitive to test himself, have fun, and demonstrate to the world that even if you have a disability that is not immediately obvious, there is a place for you in triathlon.
Ryan plans to continue racing and promoting triathlon while also helping spearhead CAF’s new efforts to increase opportunities for challenged athletes in surfing and other action sports. As he puts it, “What’s more rewarding than knowing that you are living every minute with everything you’ve got? This is our time to be alive and disability or not I’m gonna take advantage of it! I hope you do too.”
“The award honors a challenged athlete who demonstrates courage, commitment, and leadership not only in their personal performance but in opening doors for others," said Neal Schmale, president and chief operating officer of Sempra Energy. “We believe CAF and its athletes match up well with our values — focus, determination, resilience and meeting adversity head on and dealing with it. Ryan epitomizes these behaviors and we congratulate him for being selected asSempra Energy's third annualTrailblazer Award winner.”
CAF is proud to recognize Ryan Levinson as the Sempra Energy Trailblazer Award winner for following his passion, having the courage to face the unknown and providing leadership in the disabled sports population.
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