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Mar27

Andreas Johansson Embarks on the CMT Challenge for CAF

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Andreas Johansson, a challenged athlete suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, is gearing up to embark on an amazing journey to raise awareness of and funds for the Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF). This Thursday, he will leave New York and travel 6,000 miles across the United States heading towards Seattle, WA then down into San Diego. Cross-country tours are no strangers to Andreas as he’s completed two bicycle tours across the U.S. and more across Europe, but this time he will be riding an ElliptiGO. Andreas has been training for his journey called the CMT Challenge. Below, Andreas recounts the ElliptiGO clinic he attended at the CAF headquarters a couple of weeks ago and the reason for the CMT Challenge.

Andreas (left) and Jonathan Deguzman at the ElliptiGO clinic

 Count Down to the CMT Challenge
by Andreas Johansson

People like Jonathan Deguzman are the reason why I want to get involved with CAF. Jonathan is a bi-lateral below-knee amputee, a meningitis survivor and the challenged athlete I met at the St.Patty’s Day ElliptiGO Clinic at the Challenged Athlete Foundation Headquarters in San Diego. I too am a challenged athlete suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease which affects the strength in my hands, wrists, legs and feet.

On Saturday, March 17th, I rode my ElliptiGO through the rain to The Deni + Jeff Jacobs Challenged Athletes Center where I met Jonathan, and the two founders of ElliptiGO: Brent and Bryce. Jonathan was determined to ride the ElliptiGO and jumped right on it as soon as it was set up on the stationary training machine. In the beginning Jonathan wasn’t able to brake or shift gears because he is missing all of his fingers except his thumbs and was experiencing some problems with booth of his below knee prosthetics.It could have been so easy for Jonathan to give up at this point, like so many others would have done — like I would have done — but Jonathan persevered while Brent and Bryce tweaked and adjusted the bike to fit. Before long, Jonathan was riding on his own.

Andreas and Jonathan riding on their own

It wasn’t until reading about adaptive sports in a forum that I knew it was possible for people with disabilities to be involved in sports. When I realized that I too can participate in sports despite my disease, I embarked on a bicycle tour, riding through Europe and across the United States twice. Now I will embark on my journey called the CMT Challenge touring the country on an ElliptiGO, to raise awareness of and funds for CAF.

In 2011 I spent 179 days on an 8,000 mile bicycle tour across USA beginning in New York to Solana Beach before crossing the border into Mexico and continuing down to South America. While I stopped in Solana Beach, I took a test ride on an ElliptiGO then spent the rest of my bike tour thinking about it.

As I cycled towards the Mexican border, I happened to meet the cyclists on the last leg of CAF’s Million Dollar Challenge and the riders informed me on the philosophies of CAF. Before I crossed the border to Mexico a new idea was formed. Almost a year after I took off from New York and started my fifth bicycle tour, and now I will go back to New York and cross the country again, but this time I will use a trailer instead of panniers, an ElliptiGO instead of bicycle, all to raise funds for and spread awareness of CAF instead of doing the tour just for myself.

Follow Andreas’ journey across the country. Stay up to date on his location and experiences by checking out his blog: www.cmtchallenge.com and Facebook: www.facebook.com/cmtchallenge.

Feb24

Must Read: “Steps to the Summit” by Paul Fejtek

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Denise and Paul Fejtek at the top of Everest

CAF is pleased to announce and recommend a GREAT new book called “Steps to the Summit – Reaching the Top in Business and Life” by business leader and CAF’s 2010 Most Inspirational Athlete, Paul Fejtek.  It is a captivating account of the quest of one challenged athlete to climb Mt. Everest and all of the highest mountains on each continent around the world. In his book, Fejtek recounts the risks he took to achieve his goal while delivering impactful messages to help every reader conquer their own summit successfully, whether it is a literal, personal or professional summit.

The entire book is brimming with valuable advice, but the chapter titles or “Steps” stand powerfully alone.

"Steps to the Summit - Reaching the Top in Business and Life"

  In a clever and gripping read you will learn to:

• Dream Big and Step Up
• Live Courageously
• Discover Your Creativity
• Be Determined and Disciplined
• Lead and They Will Follow
• Be Prepared
• Don’t worry Be Happy
• Have a Little Faith
• Move Fast
• Take a Step Back
• Maintain a Sharp Focus
• Build Quality Relationships
• Make a Decision
• Just Breathe
• Never Give Up

These phrases are important to any aspect of life. Readers will take from this book the knowledge that often we are our biggest obstacle in our personal and professional paths.  As Sir Edmund Hillary said after becoming the first person to successfully climb Mt. Everest in 1953: “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves. “ Fejtek prompts us to “Step Up” and over ourselves and realize that great rewards involve great risks. Allow yourself to “Dream Big” – any dream you want — and recognize the courage within you to take the necessary steps to reach your summit.
Fejtek’s detailed account of his suspenseful journeys and his logical application of his lessons to life and business deliver a one-two punch. Not only are we awed by Fejtek’s courage, but he lends us insight on how we too can be just as courageous and successful in our own endeavors.

Fejtek along with his wife and climbing partner Denise, who were side-by-side on all of these journeys, are inspirations to the Challenged Athletes Foundation and its community of athletes and supporters. The Fejteks are donating 100% of the profits from the sale of the book to CAF.  Find out more information here and pick up your own copy of this wonderful and insightful book! http://StepsToTheSummit.com

Feb08

Nike and CAF athlete Sarah Reinertsen develop a “shoe” for athletes with prosthetic limbs.

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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

Jan17

Denise Castelli’s First Blog Featured on CNN Fit Nation

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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.

Dec06

San Francisco Urbanathlon 2011 – Race Report

Posted by in CAF Guest Bloggers, Challenged Athletes, Events, News | 0 Comments

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!

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