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by James Sa
James Sa is an aspiring writer and quad rugby player who currently plays with the Sharp Edge rugby team.  He is already famous for his excellent form as a tackling dummy and penchant for devouring his entire meal before his peers even start eating.  In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out, and harassing Jeff Odom.

My legs aren’t too fond of me these days. Living with quadriplegia gave me a new appreciation of the human physique’s versatility; all the tasks carried out by different muscles were suddenly delegated to only a quarter of my body.  My rotator cuffs are now ACLs, my biceps, hamstrings.  A low slung seat and girdle substitute my paralyzed trunk, perched between two wheels cambered wide to allow for high speed turns.  The transformation from my everyday chair to my rugby chair is startling.

It’s hard to explain to my able-bodied friends the draw of rugby; it’s certainly easy for them to “get” that it’s a cool and fun way to continue my love for competition, but to really “get” it requires a deeper explanation.

I remember the first time I got a real bike.  It was a 21 speed mountain bike with 26” wheels, an impressive upgrade from what I had been terrorizing my neighborhood on.  At ten years old, I had to jump just to get on the seat, but my father promised I’d grow into it.  I felt like I was riding a motorcycle.  Being able to gear up and conquer hills with ease made me feel powerful and fast—pedaling furiously to barely make headway on any ground while my brother effortlessly glided around quickly became a distant memory.  My world exploded, yielding exciting new territories behind hills that previously served as impenetrable gates.

There is a marriage of sorts between a disabled athlete and their equipment.  The best track and field amputee will never be competitive without prosthetics tailored to their height and weight.  A rugby chair that does not compensate for a lack of trunk muscles in a player leaves them a sitting duck while their opponent cuts and leaves them in the dust.  The days of playing soccer barefoot in the park are gone.  We must not only train to maximize our potential, but also trust in the integrity of our gear and its ability to carry us as far as we have prepared.  Conversely, it is impossible for an athlete to ever realize what they can achieve if they’re never given the opportunity.

This is where Challenged Athletes Foundation helped pick up my life from the aftermath of a tragic accident.  Being the strongest or the fastest takes hard work.  Through CAF, the right to work hard is no longer denied to the disabled.  With steep medical fees that haunt the disabled for a lifetime, a grant to fund athletic equipment becomes a beacon of hope and a reminder that something better is attainable.  I had no idea I could be fast or strong again.  I just wanted to go to a rugby practice to take my mind off being crippled.

Jeff Odom, a mentor for CAF, happened to be the first person I met.  An experienced and accomplished athlete, he took me under his wing immediately, opting to sit out the entire practice so I could try out his rugby chair.  Suddenly, I was turning on a dime, able to reach both arms above my head to catch passes, and push the length of the court in a blink of an eye.  I was actually quite awful, but after spending months in a bulky hospital chair, I felt like an Olympic sprinter.  At the end of practice, Jeff offered to be my mentor through a CAF program (Project N.Ex.T.) which would help fund a rugby chair of my own.  The same feeling I received from my first bike resurfaced, a powerful and uplifting contrast from the depression I suffered from being paralyzed.  I started to notice that there were quads with broad shoulders and heavily muscled arms that could not be described by any other word than simply, “athletic”.  These were physiques impossible to develop by merely sitting around all day.

I get my speed fix now by hopping into my rugby chair, gunning around nearby trails and hills with just my arms.  It’s been about two years since the last time I walked.  I figured all the years I spent in the weight room were wasted now that I was condemned to a life of being sickly and frail, but here I am, living independently and chasing a dream with a new set of “legs” strong enough to overcome any hill in my path.


Illustration by James Sa in honor of his 1 year “quadriversary”

At the Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF), our hearts go out to all the victims and families impacted by the terrible tragedy in Boston on April 15.

We are currently reaching out to hospitals in the Boston area to ensure that those affected know we are here to help. We understand the healing process will take time and when the injured are ready, CAF will be here to support them in their recovery through mentorship, clinics and assistance with equipment that will allow them to participate in sports – and in life – once again.

Sadly this type of tragedy impacts more than just the injured. We would like the broader community to know that we are also here to support and serve as an informational resource to family and friends of the victims. We are available to help them understand the process of healing their loved ones will face, and the possibilities for amputees and others suffering permanent physical injuries. They are truly endless.

In addition, we plan to work with prosthetists and encourage the injured to attend our free running clinic in Boston this October. We will also be inviting victims of the bombing to the San Diego Triathlon Challenge, also in October, so they can join more than 250 challenged athletes who attend to celebrate ability and sport, and experience for themselves what is possible, regardless of disability.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of our supporters who have contacted us to see how they can help and to find out what CAF will be doing to support the victims. In response to those inquiries and to this horrific bombing, we have created a grant fund specifically designated for the victims of the Boston tragedy.

To learn more or to make a donation, please visit: www.challengedathletes.org/Boston 

Rest assured that we intend to put the full weight of our 20 years of experience in supporting the athletic goals of physically challenged athletes to work on behalf of the victims of the Boston attack.  Thank you for your continued support of challenged athletes.

By Jenna Loftus, CAF Business Development Manager

Jenna ran the Los Angeles Marathon on St. Patrick’s Day this month. Read on as she tells her story of why working at CAF inspired her to “race for a reason” and fundraise for this milestone athletic feat. P.S. – CONGRATULATIONS, JENNA!

“So, what races do you have coming up?” Erica Davis, CAF athlete, casually asked me after she listed what seemed to be more races than days in a year in her upcoming events calendar. “Well”, I replied, “I have a few smaller races but someday I want to do a full marathon.” “Soo what are you waiting for!?” she questioned with a persistent smile.

That was it. Those 4 words were all I needed to set my leg muscles twitching. I knew that I was in fact, waiting for nothing. It happened to be my 26th birthday and in that moment I made a promise to myself that this would be the year of ‘some days’. Why wait for some day, when I have the ability to do it NOW? In that moment I went online and impulsively registered for one of the toughest athletic challenges of my life – my mind was ready, however my body needed some convincing. Los Angeles Marathon, I am coming for you.

So I ran. I have always been a runner and an athlete but 26.2 miles was a whole new beast. My older sister, a veteran of 4 marathons, joined my forces and we put in the miles. It wasn’t easy finding motivation on a chilling (for San Diego) morning or a solo 16 mile run in the rain after a week of the flu but I didn’t sign up for this to be easy, right? Those days were overshadowed by the mornings where I couldn’t wait to wake up, tie my shoes and hit the road, growing in confidence and endurance with each mile. How good it felt to start my day with an hour of fresh air, a sunrise and a clear mind.  In that training period, these legs clocked over 400 miles.

And I raised. I decided to put some purpose behind the miles I had ahead of me. What better use of my efforts than to raise money for the very athletes who have been inspiring me every day since I started working for CAF.   I did the usual Facebook solicitation and friendly emails to my people but I wanted to take it one step further. I quickly took on the role of an event planner as my side job, secured a live band and together with the support of my family, threw an epic backyard fundraiser themed, ‘Get Your GIVE On’. Over 75 people got their dance, eat, drink, raffle and give on to support CAF. Jami Goldman-Marsailles shared her incredibly moving story, followed by a live performance by local San Diegan, Paul Cannon. Overall, my fundraising efforts reached over $9,400 and a new network of people found a genuine passion for a previously undiscovered cause.

And finally, I conquered. Someday was finally today. Mile 10 I was cool, mile 14 was steady, mile 19 was impossible, mile 23 was existential and mile 26.2 was pure elation and tears. The finish line was actually behind me. All of my doubts and fears vanished and were quickly replenished with certainty, relief and joy. The support of my coworkers, friends and loving family (including my 12-time marathon running mama) was truly overwhelming and the sense of accomplishment I experienced was unlike any other feeling. Hearing people say you are stronger than you think is one thing; proving it to yourself is where true self confidence is created. To my inner voice that rarely stops to celebrate my own successes, I say, not this time! I am PROUD. That moment will be stored in my memory bank for all future challenges – be the girl crossing the finishing line. Be bold, live life with your hands in the air!

A few of my favorite signs held by stranger angels throughout the course:

You run faster with 8 toenails anyways!
This is the worst parade ever.
Finishing a marathon…there’s no app for that
Your muscles hurt so badly because you are kicking so much butt
You perspiration is my inspiration

Running a marathon has been compared by several people to child birth – in the moment you swear you’ll never do it again but then you forget the pain and the reward keeps you going back. I think I’ll wait for my quads to stop burning before I make any final statements!

Whether it’s taking those first few steps to an active lifestyle or 26.2 miles of sweet pain, it’s my turn to ask, what are YOU waiting for?

      

By Karin and Alan Lurie, Volunteer Event Organizers

As we began to plan for the September 2013 CAF Glacier Hiking Challenge, I took a moment to reflect back on the amazing memories from the 2012 CAF Yosemite Hiking Challenge.  This past September, hikers from San Diego, Los Angeles and St Louis, headed to Yosemite for an intense hiking challenge to raise funds for CAF.

We were very excited to have two challenged athletes join us on the trip.

Ryan Levinson was once a super-athlete, participating in a variety of competitive sports.  As his muscular dystrophy has progressed, it has become more difficult for him to maintain this high level of participation.  With the support of CAF, he has transitioned to alternative sports.  Ryan now enjoys water sports and hiking and solo ocean sailing has become one of his passions.  Thanks in part to Ryan’s tireless efforts, challenged athletes are now included in surfing competitions throughout Southern California. Although the intense 3 days of hiking in Yosemite was a challenge for Ryan, he completed every mile, always with care and concern for others, a wonderful sense of humor and a beaming smile.

Christine is also an amazing athlete, also with muscular dystrophy.  She is new to CAF and decided to join us to experience a CAF event and to get to know Ryan.  She was our most enthusiastic fundraiser and had more energy than the rest of the group put together!

After checking into the Yosemite Lodge, we met for a pre-arranged welcome dinner and briefing.  The anticipation, energy and excitement were palpable as participants enjoyed the meet-and-greet.

 Day 1:  10 miles hiking, 1800ft elevation gain and loss

The weather was perfect!  We met early and took the shuttle bus to the start of the iconic and famous Mist Trail.

We hiked up the steep, granite steps to the top of Vernal Falls where we stopped to take in the breathtaking beauty and have a well-deserved snack.

Then it was onward and upward along the very technical, rocky trail to the top of Nevada Falls and into Little Yosemite Valley.

We returned to the top of Nevada Falls for lunch beside the river.  A cooling foot soak in the river was very welcome.

Our return to Yosemite Valley was via the John Muir trail which gave us a different perspective of Nevada Falls. The group enjoyed well earned cold beers at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel.

Dinner was prearranged at the Yosemite Lodge and stories of the first day were shared with new found friends.  After a briefing of the next day, we retired to bed early, tired but eager for the next day’s adventure.

Day 2: 13 miles hiking, 1800ft elevation gain and loss.

What lay ahead – an undulating 13 mile hike! Today included a combination of iconic view points overlooking Yosemite Valley and lesser used trails to more isolated spots!

We began the day with a 1 mile “warm up” hike up Sentinel Dome to take in the panoramic views.  The hike 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 below.

We then continued on a less used trail through beautiful forest to Dewey Point, our lunch spot. Since we have hiked Yosemite many times, we were able to lead the group on this less well-known but spectacular hike.  The views were breathtaking! Everyone talked endlessly about the beauty and remoteness of this spot.  We returned to our cars along a gentle trail through the forest along McGurk Meadow.

Dinner was again provided at the Lodge Restaurant.

Day 3: 9.2 miles hiking, 3000ft elevation gain and loss.

Today was the biggest physical challenge – the 4 Mile Trail which is actually 4.6 miles!  It starts on the Yosemite Valley floor and ends at Glacier Point, some 3000ft above!

Some undertook this hike as an extreme physical challenge and raced each other up the mountain.  Others took their time to savor the incredible scenery.

We enjoyed a very leisurely lunch at Glacier Point before heading back down to the Valley.  A few energetic hikers decided to take a different return route to add on an extra 5 miles.  They were rewarded at the bottom of the Vernal Falls with a refreshing swim in a safe rock pool.

An emotional farewell dinner was held at the Lodge.  We spent a delightful evening reminiscing about the hikes and brainstorming for next year’s event!

Testimonials from the 2012 CAF Yosemite Hiking Challenge:

“It was the trip of a lifetime”

“We couldn’t have asked for a better hiking experience”

“I would hike to the ends of the earth with this group! Smiling all the way…”

“We will do it again in a heartbeat”

“Can’t wait until next year.  We will be there.”

“Had the most wonderful time – your organization was perfect, the hikes wonderful, food was great and we really enjoyed meeting such good people.  What a terrific event.”

You pulled together an amazing, diverse, motivated, and fun group of people.  The Hiking Challenge is one of CAF’s most incredible programs in that it’s a powerful fundraiser and an athletic challenge.  More “family” than “fundraiser.”

Interested in hiking with CAF in 2013? Join the CAF Glacier Hiking Challenge  - a three day hiking adventure through beautiful Glacier National Park in Montana.

Dates: September 7-11, 2013
For more information, please contact Karin and Alan Lurie at cafhike@gmail.com

Scout Bassett is a CAF spokesperson, mentor, UCLA graduate, elite track & field star and triathlete, and overall bubbly 24 year old young woman with an infectious laugh and love for fro-yo. Scout’s beginnings as an abandoned amputee in a Chinese orphanage did not defy her journey to success. Her remarkable tale has inspired thousands across the globe – so much so that she caught the attention of the folks at TED, who extended the prestigious honor of inviting Scout to share her story as a speaker at the 2012 TEDxSarasota event. Speaking about the importance and power of creating one’s own identity, Scout wowed the crowd and received a standing ovation. We are so proud of Scout for this amazing feat, and are thankful that CAF was able to be a part of her wonderful experience.  Read on for Scout’s first-hand account of the TEDx journey, and watch the video.

Meet Guest Blogger: Scout Bassett

I’m not a professional speaker. I don’t claim to be an expert on any topic. I’m not a well-known innovator or thinker. So when I received a call from the founder of TEDxSarasota last fall asking me to present, to say I was stunned would be an understatement.

Sure, I’ve given lots of informal speeches, but I’ve never done a “professional” talk in my life. I told the organizer that while I was very flattered by the invite, I wasn’t real keen on the idea so I would probably decline. She responded by asking me to think about it and to give her my final decision by the end of the week.

I shared this news with my team and they all thought I was n-u-t-s for not seizing the opportunity. I pushed back, expressing my concerns and fears. It’s one thing to speak to a live audience, but it’s another thing to have that talk recorded and uploaded online for the world to see. After a lot of convincing and encouragement, I committed to doing the TED talk and boy am I appreciative for everyone who pushed me to do it!

TED’s primary speaker premise is to “give the talk of your life.” As I pondered over the contents of my speech, I asked myself, “If you have just 15 minutes, what do you want the world to know?” I wanted to share my own personal story from a weak powerless orphan to where I am today. I couldn’t wait to tell the audience about my biggest passion, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and how they have transformed my life from the inside out with a single piece of equipment – my first Össur running leg at age 14. But I didn’t want this presentation to be the “Hero – aren’t l awesome?” talk. I knew that if I had one shot to tell the world something valuable, I had to discuss vulnerabilities that I’ve been fearful to talk publicly about – my doubts, my inner struggles, and my failures.

Somehow, competing on the world championship stage in front of thousands of people is doable, but giving a TED talk was by far the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever done in my life. I nearly passed out right before I even started! If you can look past my nervousness and dorky humor, I hope that I’ve adequately expressed how life’s struggles and challenges can be our greatest gifts. They present us with opportunities to either be defeated or to rise above them with courage and strength.

This talk is really a tribute to my incredible team. First and foremost: I thank God for helping me to overcome so much in my life and blessing me with a phenomenal family, friends and coaches who continually show unbelievable love and patience (trust me, they have to put up with a lot!). To my CAF, POA, Össur and ZICO family, you have made my story and dreams possible and for that I will always be grateful. A special shout out to Dave McGill, Laura Jackson and Jeff Bear for your expert advice and more importantly, for helping me to not look like a fool! Deep appreciation to the city of Sarasota and all the TEDxSarasota organizers and volunteers for such a humbling and amazing experience! And last but certainly not least, to all the dreamers, kids who never thought they had a chance and anyone who has ever struggled, failed and gotten back up – this is for you. Thank you for driving me to keep fighting day after day – week after week – month after month.

With love and gratitude,
Scout

Follow Scout on Twitter

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