39 Challenged Athletes from Around the World to Compete at Accenture Challenged Athletes National Championship in NYC
Race Takes Place July 24 as Part of 2016 Panasonic New York City Triathlon
New York & San Diego, CA – July 21, 2016
The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) announced that 39 challenged athletes from Canada, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States will participate in the Accenture Challenged Athletes National Championship. The race will take place on Sunday, July 24 as part of the 2016 Panasonic New York City Triathlon.
Participants will navigate a point-to-point 1500-meter swim in the Hudson River, then bike 40 km on the scenic west-side of Manhattan up to the Bronx and back, and finish with a 10 km run around New York City’s iconic Central Park.
The competition allows athletes from different classifications based on physical challenge to compete to determine the “best of the best” male and female paratriathletes.
The Accenture Challenged Athletes National Championship is the first event of its kinds to offer a prize purse. $7,500 will be up for grabs for the top five male and female finishers. Prize money will be awarded to first ($1,250), second ($1,000), third ($750), fourth ($500) and fifth ($250) place overall male and female finishers.
As a world leader in creating athletic opportunities for individuals with physical challenges, Challenged Athletes Foundation established the CAF Elite Paratriathlon Team in 2013. The aim was to provide some of the top U.S. paratriathletes the support they need to compete at the highest level with the goal of racing at paratriathlon’s debut in the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Many members of the CAF Elite Paratriathlon Team have previously competed at the Accenture Challenged Athletes National Championship, which has been instrumental to launching their successful paratriathlon career.
Four members of the team successfully earned a spot on Team USA’s Paratriathlon team that will be heading to the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Those athletes are Mark Barr (PT2), Chris Hammer (PT4), Patricia Collins (PT4) and Patricia Walsh (PT5).
“We are thrilled to witness the continued growth and success of the sport of paratriathlon,” remarked Challenged Athletes Foundation CEO Ken Wheatley. “Thanks to the support of wonderful partners like Accenture, together we have been able to provide dozens of travel grants so that challenged athletes can participate in this event. For some Team CAF athletes this was their first competitive paratriathlon experience, who now have the opportunity to perform at the sporting world’s greatest stage, the Paralympics.”
About the Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is a world leader in helping people with physical challenges lead active, healthy lifestyles. CAF believes that participation in physical activity at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $76 million has been raised and over 13,000 funding requests from people with physical challenges in all 50 states and dozens of countries have been satisfied. Additionally, CAF’s outreach efforts reach another 60,000 individuals each year. Whether it’s a $2,500 grant for a handcycle, helping underwrite a carbon fiber running foot not covered by insurance, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar challenge, CAF’s mission is clear: give opportunities and support to those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles To learn more, visit challengedathletes.org or call 858- 866-0959.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 375,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.