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CAF Announces New Northeast Representative
 The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is pleased to welcome Amy Williams (amy@challengedathletes.org ), CAF’s Northeast Regional Manager, to the team. Amy was first introduced to CAF as a volunteer during the 2009 A Celebration of Heroes, Heart and Hope Gala in New York, where she was inspired by the CAF’s mission and athletes. As an endurance athlete and coach, Amy is passionate about introducing sports to others.
With more than eight years of international experience in marketing, events, public relations and business development, Amy brings a unique blend of experience and energy to the team. Her primary responsibilities as the Northeast Regional Manager include, overseeing community growth, public awareness and business development in the Northeast region and New York City.
Please join CAF in welcoming Amy to the team!
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First Female Paraplegic to Summit Mt. Kilimanjaro
 Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro would be a huge accomplishment for anyone, but for 28-year-old Erica Davis of San Diego, the victory is extra sweet. On December 31, 2005, a genetic anomaly changed Erica’s life forever. Over the course of four days, Erica went from having a backache to not being able to walk. An abnormal cluster of blood cells had catastrophically leaked into Davis’s spinal column, resulting in paralysis from the naval down.
While this experience would have slowed some people down, it only fueled Erica’s fire. Her positive attitude, an unwavering determination, the support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) and the community have helped Erica to accomplish many goals in triathlon as well as in her latest adventure of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
With the support of the C.H.E.C.K Institute, Overstock.com and CAF, Erica and a team of seven other climbers (Fit 4 Kili), including Tara Butcher a below knee amputee, made their way to the African country of Tanzania with a mission of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
They not only reached the summit, but they also reached their goals of raising awareness for individuals with physical challenges, by raising funds for CAF and by being the first female paraplegic to successfully complete this journey.
CAF would like to congratulate Erica, Tara and their team for all of their hard work.
To learn about Fit4Kili, visit http://www.paulchekseminars.com/kili
To read the blogged adventures, visit http://theroof.tumblr.com/
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CAF & Haiti - February 2010
Dear CAF Supporters,
When an earthquake rocked the very core of the tiny nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010, we all sat back in disbelief and helplessly watched as the reports came flooding in of the death toll, the missing bodies, the crushed buildings, the look of hopelessness on the faces of thousands of Haitians and wondered….. why?
As the day’s move forward we know that there have been thousands of amputations and the numbers continue to grow at a devastating rate. With the most basic needs of water, food, medicine and shelter as the core focus, it will take time before the longer term needs of the Haitian people who have been permanently affected by disability are realized.
CAF is keeping in close contact with the healthcare industry in regards to action being taken, immediate needs and organizations that are making coordinated efforts to help those in need of medical assistance. Additionally, CAF has contacts on the ground in Haiti that are providing updates on progress, need and planning.
It is clear, at this stage the priorities remain to save and sustain life. At some point, when the chaos has become more manageable, there will be a need for CAF to fulfill through programs, mentorship and guidance. We appreciate your outpouring of concern for those who have become disabled as a result of this tragedy and for your thoughts on how CAF can help. However, we believe it is of utmost importance at this time that we support the efforts being made by these organizations to try and stabilize a nation in deep distress. As the situation becomes more stabilized, CAF will provide updates as it is called upon help with healing of Haiti.
Thank you to our amazing supporters for your kindness and willingness to help,
The CAF Team
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Team CAF Wildflower – Off to a Great Start
 The inaugural edition of Team CAF Wildflower was the start of something special. Fundraisers were given a unique opportunity to spend quality time with those benefiting from their fundraising – the challenged athletes supported by CAF. Thanks to the support of CAF’s long time partner Tri-California Events (Tri-Cal), the Team CAF Wildflower program provided participants with a true team-building experience, where many camped and raced alongside CAF athletes, and received a CAF racing kit and other perks. All together, the 15 team members raised $19,788 for challenged athletes.
 The eight-person CAF athlete contingent included Wildflower veterans “One-Arm” Willie Stewart, Sarah Reinertsen and Chad Crittenden. Others competing in the Mountain Bike, Long Course and Olympic distance triathlons were Brandon Erickson, Andy May, Jonathan Bik, Scout Bassett and Creighton Wong.
A special thanks to Tri-Cal for making Team CAF Wildflower possible, to Hypercat Racing for providing the custom training programs, to AVIA for creating a Legends Relay Team Auction opportunity with Scott Tinley and Kenny Souza, and to Scott Tinley for leading the swim clinic. Most importantly, thank you to all our Wildflower fundraisers, who helping turn dreams into reality. Look for an expanded version of the program next year, with more perks and a new crop of CAF athletes. Join us at Lake San Antonio in 2009, as we look to double participation and the funds raised.
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The Damages - CAF Headquarters Fire
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 CAF is moving!
Please make note of our new address, phone and fax as of June 19, 2006.
New Address: 11199 Sorrento Valley Rd., Suite C, San Diego, CA 92121
New Phone: (858) 866-0959
New Fax: (858) 866-0958
*Email addresses will remain the same. Thank you. |
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 Making Paralympic Dreams Come True
IX Paralympic Winter Games 10-19 March 2006
With your help, CAF has supported 23 of the 56 U.S. Paralympians selected to compete in the 2006 Winter Paralympic Games, 41 percent of the entire team. These athletes will be competing in the following four events: Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Sled Hockey and Wheelchair Curling.
Photo: CAF Grantees, Muffy Davis and Eirk Bayindirli at the Opening Ceremonies, sporting CAF stickers on their chairs.
How to Stay Tuned
Thanks to the evolution of the Internet, history will be made this year as all sports of the Paralympic Winter Games will be shown on an Internet television channel. The International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) channel is now live on www.paralympicsport.tv, currently showing footage from the previous Winter Paralympics. Stay tuned and watch the U.S. Paralympic teams compete for their chance at gold.
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Teen who lost leg in shark attack trains for triathlon
Inspired by Sarah Reinertsen, shark attack victim Craig Hutto trains for the swim
portion of the 2006 SDTC.
Read the article on ESPN
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 Green, Stephens to appear on NBC’s Today
to mark two weeks from Opening Ceremonies
CAF Grantees, Green and Stephens to be featured on NBC's Today, Friday, February 24, 2006. The piece will air live from Torino, Italy during the 9:00 am E.T. slot to mark the two week point leading into the Opening Ceremonies for the 2006 Winter Paralympic Games.
Read the U.S Paralympics Story, By Beth Bourgeois
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Rudy Garcia-Tolson, teenage phenomenon and longtime 
CAF spokesperson was featured on ABC's Nightline.
Read the ABC story, By Sarah H. Rosenberg:
Teen Thriving Despite Race Disease, Amputations
Young Triathlete Is "Unstoppable" Despite Loss of His Legs
Read More
Read Competitor Magazine's Publishers Note, By Bob Babbitt
"A Brave Heart is a Powerful Weapon"
Read More
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 CAF “In the House” at Rose Bowl National Championship Game Presented by Citi!
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 1/4/2006
Thanks to Citi, the Tournament of Roses and ABC Sports, CAF received national exposure during the Rose Bowl BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 4, 2006. CAF was the subject of Citi’s 30-second Chairman’s Message – which featured Sarah Reinertsen, Capt. David Rozelle, Rudy Garcia-Tolson and 20 other CAF athletes – and was broadcast on ABC at halftime.
 Fifty CAF representatives also attended the exciting showdown between Texas and USC. “We are extremely grateful to Citi, the Tournament of Roses and ABC Sports for giving CAF this valuable platform and for allowing us to take part in the ‘Game of the Century’,” said Virginia Tinley, CAF’s Executive Director. “It was an incredible opportunity for the Foundation and our athletes really enjoyed the game and the chance to take part in the festivities.
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Moleda Bids Farwell to Kona… on Top!
December 13, 2005
CAF spokesperson Carlos Moleda featured on Ironmanlive.com
“He’s always been the “man to beat” when he’s raced in Kona. In this, his last appearance at the Ford Ironman World Championship, Carlos Moleda handled that pressure with style, winning in record time, and proving that he remains at the “top of his game.”
Read More:
http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/topstories/1134421987/
Paralympic qualifying races come to Breckenridge
December 9, 2006
CAF grantees, Laurie Stephens and Gerald Hayden, featured in the Summit Daily News
“The chair lift moved a little slower and stopped slightly more often that usual at Breckenridge on Thursday, but nobody seemed to mind.”
Read More:
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20051208/SPORTS/112080054&SearchID=73229644742779
Skateboarder and CAF Grantee, Evan Strong, is riding on!
11/16/2005
CAG grantee is featured on 'signOnSanDiego web site
"Riding his motorcycle along the two-lane Hana Highway on Maui, Evan Strong was loving life. It was Nov. 3, 2004. Ten days shy of turning 18, he was a sponsored skateboarder, done with high school and a warm Hawaiian breeze was slaping him in the face."
"In a split second, his life would forever be changed."
Read more:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20051116-9999-1s16flip1.html
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