Each year, the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) hosts one of its most meaningful events—the Celebration of Abilities Awards. More than a ceremony, this evening honors the athletes, volunteers, and partners who embody CAF’s mission to empower individuals with physical disabilities through sport.

The 2025 Celebration of Abilities will bring together the CAF community for an inspiring night of recognition, connection, and gratitude. This year’s honorees have advanced the world of adaptive athletics through achievement, leadership, and their commitment to creating greater access to sport for all.

2025 Celebration of Abilities Award Winners

Jim MacLaren Award

Recipient: Tabi King

CAF’s highest annual honor recognizes an individual whose contributions have profoundly advanced the organization’s mission.

For more than three decades, Tabi King has helped shape CAF into what it is today. Joining shortly after the first San Diego Triathlon Challenge, she played a central role in defining CAF’s mission and long-term strategy.

As one of CAF’s earliest employees, Tabi helped establish partnerships and programs that continue to impact thousands of athletes globally—including the Össur running foot program and CAF–Össur Mobility Clinics.

Now Vice President of Marketing and Operations at Össur, and a CAF Board member for over 30 years, Tabi continues to champion innovation, inclusion, and access to mobility worldwide. Her leadership and vision have left a lasting imprint on the CAF community and beyond.

Exceptional Athletic Performance Award

Recipient: Mohamed Lahna

This award honors an athlete who has achieved extraordinary success in sport through perseverance and exceptional conditioning.

Born in Morocco, Mohamed Lahna dreamed of competing on the world stage long before the opportunity existed. At 20, he received his first functional prosthetic and discovered a new world of possibility. He learned to ride a bike at 25, cycled across the Atlas Mountains the following year, and soon completed his first marathon.

In 2011, Mohamed met CAF Ambassador Sarah Reinertsen and received his first CAF grant for a running prosthetic—helping pave the way to a bronze medal in paratriathlon at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

Since then, Mohamed has completed extraordinary endurance feats, from swimming the Strait of Gibraltar to running the Marathon des Sables and finishing the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.

Earlier this year, he joined CAF athletes Andre Kajlich and Lucas Onan for the “Lowest Highest” expedition—cycling from the lowest point to the highest peak in South America—and raised $25,000 through the Purple Patch Challenge to support CAF. His journey is defined by resilience, purpose, and giving back.

Exceptional Athletic Performance Award

Recipient: Lauren Parker

This award honors an athlete who has achieved extraordinary success in sport through perseverance and exceptional conditioning.

A former elite triathlete who placed second in her age group at the 2015 IRONMAN World Championship, Lauren Parker turned professional soon after. In 2017, a cycling accident changed her path—but not her determination to compete.

Just months later, Lauren attended the San Diego Triathlon Challenge, where she met CAF athletes Carlos Moleda and David Bailey. Less than a year after her accident, she earned bronze in paratriathlon at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Lauren has since become one of the most accomplished paratriathletes and paracyclists in the world. She earned silver in Tokyo 2021 and, at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, captured gold in paratriathlon, gold in the road race, and silver in the time trial. She also holds two IRONMAN World Championship titles, including a record-breaking performance in Kona.

Lauren’s enduring connection with CAF represents what’s possible when access and opportunity align.

Unstoppable Award

Recipient: Derek Loccident

This award recognizes an athlete who has overcome significant challenges to reach new heights in sport and mentorship.

A standout football and track athlete from Oklahoma City, Derek Loccident’s path changed dramatically following an accident during college. His determination to return to sport led him to para track and field, where he quickly excelled.

Recruited by U.S. Para Track & Field coach Joaquim Cruz, Derek began training full-time at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. He made his international debut at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships and went on to earn silver medals in both the T64 long jump and high jump at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

Beyond the medals, Derek is a mentor to younger athletes, including Elijah Schultz, sharing encouragement and guidance as they begin their own athletic journeys. His perseverance and leadership define what it means to be unstoppable.

Trailblazer Award

Recipients: Hunter Woodhall & Tara Davis-Woodhall

This award honors athletes who demonstrate courage, leadership, and commitment to opening doors for others.

Tara Davis-Woodhall, an Olympic gold medalist in the women’s long jump, and Hunter Woodhall, a Paralympic gold and bronze medalist in the 400m T62 and mixed 4x100m Universal Relay, are redefining visibility and representation in track and field.

Tara’s achievements include Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games, a 2024 World Championship title, and two U.S. national championships. Hunter’s record spans multiple Paralympic medals from Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024.

Together, they’ve built a powerful global platform that reaches millions through their shared storytelling and advocacy, helping new athletes and families connect with CAF’s mission and the movement toward inclusion in sport.

Sam Day Rising Star Award

Recipient: Logan Marmino

This award recognizes a young athlete who demonstrates exceptional dedication and focus in pursuit of athletic goals.

At just 15, Logan Marmino is already a standout within the CAF community. His journey began at age seven when his family drove overnight to attend an Össur Running and Mobility Clinic after several canceled flights—a weekend that sparked a lifelong connection to sport and community.

Logan now competes in track, sled hockey, and baseball, with dreams of becoming a Division I baseball player. A student at Bishop Eustace Prep in New Jersey, he demonstrates commitment and focus both on and off the field.

Beyond competition, Logan mentors younger athletes with physical disabilities, volunteers at CAF clinics, and shares his story to encourage others. His leadership, positivity, and perseverance embody the spirit of the Sam Day Rising Star Award.

Volunteer of the Year

Recipient: Kristie Boltz

This award honors an individual whose volunteer leadership and dedication have significantly advanced CAF’s mission.

Kristie Boltz is the driving force behind Team CAF–Ohio—a thriving community she built through passion and connection. Each year, she raises more than $100,000, recruits riders for the Million Dollar Challenge, and organizes a 150-rider Gran Fondo in Columbus to support CAF.

She also hosts inclusive rides and an annual symposium featuring CAF athletes, growing awareness and participation throughout the Midwest. Now approaching a lifetime fundraising total of $1 million, Kristie continues to lead with compassion, uniting people through sport and shared purpose.

Media Partner of the Year

Recipient: Hiden Irvin Films

This award recognizes a media partner whose storytelling powerfully amplifies CAF’s mission.

Since 2019, filmmakers Chip Hiden and Alexis Irvin  of Hiden Irvin Films have been trusted collaborators in sharing CAF’s most meaningful stories. Their authentic, cinematic storytelling captures the heart of the mission and the strength of the athletes it serves.

Their work—from regional galas to the San Diego Triathlon Challenge and the Celebration of Abilities—has helped expand CAF’s reach, deepen donor engagement, and connect new audiences to the movement of inclusion through sport.

The 2025 Celebration of Abilities Awards highlights the collective strength, determination, and unity of the CAF community. Each honoree reminds us that sport is a powerful force for inclusion—creating opportunities, building confidence, and inspiring others to move beyond barriers. Together, we celebrate these leaders who continue to shape a world where everyone has access to movement.