Blog Home


Challenged Athletes Foundation Blog

CAF is excited to share the news! Nike, Sarah, and leading prosthetics maker, Ossur, have teamed up to create the Nike Sole – a type of “shoe” that fits on Ossur’s prosthetic Flex-Run Foot. The Nike Sole is a light-weight composite outsole that slides onto the Flex-Run Foot and stays put due to nine nylon tabs that grip onto the running blade, according to an article by Co.Design.

The sleek design of the Nike Sole fits the minimalist curve of Ossur’s carbon fiber running blade. It is composed of four layers and includes an outsole inspired by Nike cofounder Bill Bowerman’s iconic waffle traction design and a layer made of recycled Nike Air Bag units. The Nike Sole also features a rubber leash that hooks onto a tab for extra security.

Athletes usually have to buy a pair of shoes and cut the sole out of one of them to tape, glue or Velcroe it to the Flex-Run Foot, but this innovation eliminates that need and makes going for a run more convenient.  Read the full article here.

Watch the video


CAF athlete Denise Castelli, a below-knee amputee, had the honor of being selected as one of CNN’s “Lucky 7″ members of the 2012 Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge. As part of  this honor, CNN has posted Denise’s first blog. Read below and for more information about CNN’s Fit Nation, visit http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/fit.nation/.
***

By Denise Castelli

I’ve learned a lot about support over these past few years.  I often stop and think to myself that I don’t know where I’d be without my family, friends, the support of my community and the Challenged Athletes Foundation.

In April 2008, I was your ordinary senior in college.  Well, maybe not entirely ordinary. I was an NCAA softball player, as well as a dean’s list student at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. I was only looking forward to my next journey: Life after college.  With graduation around the corner, I couldn’t help but think about the world of possibilities that were out there for me.

But on April 22, 2008, tragedy struck. During one of the final games of that season (and ultimately my career), I took off from first base on a steal, headed for second and broke my leg.  I can still remember hearing the snap and the instant pain that I felt.

Up until this point in my life, I had never really experienced a moment that was so heartbreaking.  I couldn’t finish out my senior year (including  the NCAA tournament) or play in my senior game, and the chances of me walking across the stage at graduation looked slim.  I wish I knew then, how little all these things would matter to me in the months to come.

I wish I knew then what I know now.

To make the longest, most epic medical story short, I ended up with an infection in my broken leg.  I would spend the next 18 months of my life battling that infection. After osteomyelitis (an acute or chronic bone infection) set in, I soon lost complete circulation in my foot.  An amputation was inevitable.  On November 4, 2009 I had my right leg amputated below the knee and my world, as I knew it, ended.

I wish I could tell you that the first month or so after my amputation was filled with optimism and hope, but sadly, it wasn’t.  I really wanted to do nothing but lay around in my bed and cry.  I had no idea which direction to take or who to even reach out to.  That’s when fate stepped in and decided to make it happen.

My prosthetist had heard about a one day running/mobility clinic held by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. With nowhere else to turn and very little confidence under my belt, I went.  That day changed my life.  My eyes were opened to an entire world of people who were not only amputees, but also athletes in every sense of the word.  From that day on, I was determined to not let this amputation beat me.  I had to find a way to not just survive, but thrive.
And that’s exactly what I did.

So what does Fit Nation mean to me?  In one word: EVERYTHING!  It means having the life that I used to have.  It means being active, being competitive, having a purpose.  Though I do have some fears (okay, maybe more than some) about becoming a triathlete, I realize that they’re the same fears I had when I faced my amputation.  I’ve never let the fear of the unknown stop me before and I’m not going to let that happen now.

So, yes, on November 4, 2009, my world as I knew it, did end. But the beauty of it is that an entire new world opened up to me.

By Creighton Wong, CAF athlete

“There’s nothing funnier than the human animal.”
       - Walt Disney

A horn bellowed through the damp wet fog covering San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf and suddenly a gaggle of human animals were sent flying throughout the City streets.  Swept up amongst the thundering hooves we were soon deep into a concrete canyon surrounded by sheer vertical buildings at every turn.  The terrain was up, the terrain was down, and filled with many crevices and fissures that had to be negotiated along the way.  And like every great migration – such as the wildebeests crossing the treacherous Mara River – our passage had critical moments that demanded more attention to detail, skill and a little luck.  Whether it was hurdling freeway barriers; or diving under Jeeps; or ascending an endless flight of stairs inside AT&T Park (fresh with remnants from the previous nights epic battle Bears & Beavers); or vaulting over school buses … the obstacles made our travels more challenging, yet more rewarding!

So maybe the inaugural Men’s Health Urbanathlon in San Francisco didn’t have quite the death defying drama of the Great Migration, however, it sure was fun pretending it did.  And it sure was beautiful every step along the way – look to the left and see the radiant Ferry Building being kissed by the morning sun; look to the right and see the Occupy Villagers awakening from their slumber; crest the climb, take a deep breath, and appreciate the Bay Bridge connecting into Treasure Island; and run to the finish line with the always spectacular Alcatraz Penitentiary and Golden Gate Bridge in full view!  As for the aforementioned gaggle of human animals, a wonderful group of fun-seeking athletes which included a flock of Challenged Athletes Foundation friends completing each obstacle much more gracefully than I.  And in the end, if even for just a few hours, everyone had great fun experiencing the City with the imagination, smile and enjoyment of a child!

Alan Shanken, the new face of Men's Health Magazine! See him soon on NBC's coverage of the Urbanathlon.Awesome Athletes, Awesome People!Awesome Athletes, Awesome People!

By Karin Lurie, Event Organizer

As we gear up for the September 2012 CAF Yosemite Hiking Challenge, a hiking adventure featuring 3 hikes throughout Yosemite National Park, I took a moment to reflect back on the amazing memories from the 2011 trip.  This past September hikers from San Diego, Washington DC, Philadelphia and even Perth, Australia met at Yosemite National Park for an intense hiking challenge to raise funds for CAF.  After checking into the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, we met in the restaurant for a pre-arranged welcome dinner and briefing.  The anticipation, energy and excitement were palpable as participants got to enjoy the fun meet and greet. 

Day 1:

We met early outside the hotel to take the pre-arranged bus to Glacier Point.  After getting a fix of the breathtaking views and posing for a group photograph, we began the 12 mile hike down to the Valley. 

We set out on the Panorama Trail to the top of Nevada Falls, our lunch stop.  From there we went down the famous, or infamous, Mist Trail and the granite steps within a stone’s throw of Nevada and Vernal Falls.

We used the shuttle from the trail’s end at Happy Isles to return to our hotel for a well earned hot shower.  Even though we were hit with a rather intense storm on the way down, everyone felt exhilarated by the experience.  It built wonderful camaraderie.

We met for a pre-arranged dinner at the Yosemite Lodge and traded stories of our first day with new found friends.  After a briefing for our next day, most retired early to bed, tired yet eager for the next day’s adventure.

We met for a pre-arranged dinner at the Yosemite Lodge and traded stories of our first day with new found friends.  After a briefing for our next day, most retired early to bed, tired yet eager for the next day’s adventure.

Day 2:

 What lay ahead – an undulating 12 mile hike with no steep climbs to some of the iconic view points overlooking the valley.  We began the day with a 1 mile “warm up” hike up Sentinel Dome to take in the fantastic views.  We continued on to Taft Point and the Fissures. The brave were willing to lie on their stomachs and peer down the sheer cliffs to the valley floor, 3000 feet blow. 

We then continued on a less used trail through beautiful forest to Dewey Point, our lunch spot.  The views from this isolated spot were breathtaking. This particular stop was one the group talked about for the rest of the trip.  One of the beautiful features of this trip is having knowledgeable and experienced guides lead us through some of the beautiful yet lesser known trails and sights. From there we had a gentle return through the forest and along McGurk Meadow. 

Day 3:

As we stood in the parking lot of our hotel, we could see the highest point we would ascend to on today’s hike – the top of Yosemite Falls.  Amazingly enough the Falls, which is usually dry by this time of the year, was still running due to the record snow melt this year, what a treat! This was the day we had the opportunity to earn bragging rights – a 3000 ft climb from Yosemite Valley to the top of Upper Yosemite Falls. 

What a feeling to get to the top and relax for a well-deserved lunch before heading back down the mountain.

Some elected to take it easy today with a more gentle hike in the Valley, a bike ride or fly fishing.

We enjoyed a farewell dinner at the Lodge and had the opportunity to share photos, laugh and chat about trip highlights. 

This year the 2012 CAF Yosemite Hiking Challenge will yet again promise an amazing adventure filled with challenging yet beautiful hikes.  We hope you join us this September for this amazing experience and opportunity to support CAF.  For more information visit http://cafyosemitehikingchallenge.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1003345

By: CAF Staffer and athlete, Nick Roumonada aka RunNickRun

That’s what CAF does; we get people back in the game of life through sports. I was reminded of this very thing as I stepped up to the plate  during a Sport Chalet  hosted softball game  that I attended with fellow CAF athlete Denise Castelli , (a game that left me more sore than a 20 mile training run, but more on  that later).  The last time I had stepped up to bat was when I was 12 years old (that’s 22 years ago) and after I foul tipped the first pitch the first thing that came out of my mouth was, “look out guys, the last time I did this I had 2 legs!”

The softball game was part of the launch of a very exciting new partnership for CAF with Sport Chalet and their desire to use what they know best, SPORTS, to give back.

Sport Chalet asked us to speak at their annual managers meeting and play in their softball tournament the next day.  For me, one of the best parts of working at CAF is having the opportunity to meet, spend time with and sometimes even mentor other incredibly inspirational people. One such athlete is Denise Castelli from New Jersey.  Denise is a fired-up collegiate softball player from Jersey who some might say got a tough break in life (literally), but has taken what life has given her and run with it. Denise played softball for the University of New Haven in Connecticut and was one of the Chargers’ speediest base runners. In one life-changing game, with no outs, she got the steal sign, took off for second, and broke into an awkward slide. Her right leg got caught under her left and she felt it snap. She crawled to the base before the tag, but she knew her leg was broken. She had no idea, though, of the complications that would follow and after 37 surgeries, she had to have her right leg amputated. Not only has she bounced back from her own challenge, but she has come back on top! Most recently Denise was a featured ball person at the 2011 US Open. Not only did she qualify for the position, but she ended working in MAJOR matches saved for only the best athletes.

The night before the big game, Denise and I were asked to speak to the Sport Chalet’s retail managers to kick off their busy holiday season. Now that I’ve had the honor of presenting to a number of our supporters, I was feeling pretty confident about my portion of the evening, but Denise on the other hand, was feeling a bit of pressure. I simply reminded her on our long drive up to just speak from the heart, no one knows your story better than you and just by getting up there, the audience will love you. She did great!  After our video presentation was over, and I was done rambling on, Denise got up there and stole the show. She spoke from the heart, told her story about learning to run again at one of our clinics, gave her thanks to Sport Chalet for supporting CAF and coined the theme for the rest of the evening, “Congratulations to all of you at Sport Chalet, you are now in the business of giving back.”

As for the softball tournament the next day; it was HIGHLY competitive and Denise and I set on opposing teams. After playing 7 games each, luck will have it, she and I ended up playing each other in the championship game.  During that final game I must have lost track of the score because I was told later that my triple in the 9th put my team in the lead and later, gave us the win.  I was too busy reveling in the fact that I was in the game… I was “playing” again! When I lost my leg at the age of 13, I thought I had lost the ability to ever “play” again. I was wrong because 17 years later, and thanks to the good work of organizations like CAF and Sport Chalet, Denise, I and so many others, are back in the game.  Stepping back up to the plate and seeing Denise standing out there in the outfield, as an amputee athlete, really made me stop and say, “thank you.”

A huge thank-you to Sport Chalet for not only hosting Denise and I but for allowing us to show your employees the value of their commitment and how great it is to be in the business of giving back.

One last highlight just for Denise: I’ll make sure and keep the (MY) trophy shiny until next year’s rematch!

Page 1 of 111234510...Last »