San Diego Events Raise Almost $2.5 Million for CAF

There was little room for fear, preconceptions or nay-sayers at the 13th Annual Sempra Energy San Diego Triathlon Challenge held November 5 at La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California. Instead, it was a day that recognized heroes, rewarded perseverance, and realized dreams.

Between the San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC), the Frog's Fitness Tour de Cove, and the QUALCOMM Million Dollar Challenge, almost $2.5 million was raised—including $1,031,227 at the SDTC alone—which will be used to provide funding, equipment, and program activities to physically challenged athletes. Just as importantly, at the event more than 100 physically challenged swam, biked and ran alongside 550 able-bodied athletes and once again showed the world that they, too, are athletes.

Seven-time Olympic medalist Amanda Beard presents a new racing wheelchair to Erica Davis. Photo credit: Rich Cruse

"It was an amazing day, with wall-to-wall emotion and triumph," said CAF President Jeffrey Essakow. "Each year we think we've reached the pinnacle of what this event can be. Then, the next year, it surpasses all our expectations and blows us away."

The day began with athlete introductions at 7:00 AM, where each participating challenged athlete was introduced and saluted by the crowd. This was followed by a special presentation featuring three young athletes who are determined to let nothing stand in the way of their desire to stay competitive: Ford Sutter, who lost his leg to cancer and his home to Katrina; Craig Hutto, who lost his leg as the result of a shark attack last year in Florida, and Erica Davis, who became a paraplegic after cavernous hemangonoma at the T-8 level of her spinal column. The trio was recognized with a banner featuring their likenesses. Then, Erica was surprised with the gift of a racing wheelchair, presented by seven-time Olympic medalist Amanda Beard.

Double-amputee Rudy Garcia-Tolson tags teammate Robin Williams at 2006 San Diego Triathlon Challenge. Photo credit: Rich Cruse

Following that moving presentation, Oscar-winner Robin Williams presented 20 American soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan—and suffered permanent injuries—with custom CAF cycling jerseys, donated by TriWest Healthcare Alliance. The soldiers were brought to the event, thanks to CAF's Operation Rebound, a program that puts CAF's experience of over a decade to help wounded servicemen. All but two of the soldiers participated in the SDTC as swimmers, bikers, or runners.

"The SDTC is a critical event for our recovering veterans," said US Army Maj. David Rozelle, who lost his lower left leg during Operation Iraqi Freedom and acts as the inspirational leader of Operation Rebound. "It is one of the few times that patients from the three military amputee care centers—Walter Reed Army Medical, Brooke Army Medical, and Balboa Naval Hospitals—can get together and become part of a community of accomplished physically challenged athletes, sharing successes and other information that will help them get back into sports ...and into life."

After the 8 AM swim start, Amanda Beard led the pack out of the water, completing the 1.2-mile swim in a blazing 19:54, followed closely by triathlon legend Scott Tinley and bilateral transfemoral amputee Rudy Garcia-Tolson, who met teammate Robin Williams in the transition chute for a quick tag. Robin was soon off on the bike, but the day was just getting started.

An hour later, things got underway at the Frog's Fitness Tour de Cove—a 100-bike, five-hour spinathon overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The spinners would soon be rocking to the sounds of Atomic Groove and the dance moves of the AG Fly Girlz—the first time that the event featured a live band. But first, it was time to recognize the reason that all were there: to raise money and help physically challenged athletes "get into the game."

The Tour de Cove spinners were introduced to a number of young athletes who have been helped by CAF, including Brendan Driscoll, age 8, a transfemoral amputee from Massachusetts who recently received a running prosthesis from CAF after being denied one by his insurance company. Special thanks were given to Ossur North America and Hanger Prosthetics, who made Brendan's dream of being able to run with his classmates a reality.

Chula Vista Olympic Training Center September Athlete of the Month, Casey Tibbs, joins the Challenged Athlete Kids Run. Photo credit: Rich Cruse

Soon afterwards, Brendan showed off his running skills at the CAF Physically Challenged Kids' Run, as he paced a pack of eight amputees under the age of ten on a romp around the race venue. All these future stars crossed the finish line and received medals to loud cheers and applause from the crowd.

While all the day's presentations were memorable, what goes on behind the scenes is what makes the SDTC unique. The event builds a community of like-minded people who share their experiences and expertise, and often, it is the unplanned interaction that occurs between athletes that can make a real difference. For example, Jennifer Theodore, who lost both her legs after contracting viral meningitis earlier this year, came all the way from Orlando, Florida, to be an observerfeeling that she wasn't yet ready to be a participant. Then, she met Melanie Benn, who lost both arms at the elbow and both legs through the knee due to the same affliction. Melanie, a multi-time Paralympic medalist in swimming, convinced Jennifer to do at least portion of the swim. They ended up swimming the entire 1.2 miles together.

At 1:30 PM, riders from the QUALCOMM Million Dollar Challenge, who rode 640 miles from San Francisco to San Diego to raise funds for CAF, were responsible for another emotional moment when they arrived at the SDTC finish line. Forming a tunnel of bikes, they served as an honor guard for the five participating challenged athletes—including two who did the entire ride on handcycles—to ride through. Collectively, the QUALCOMM MDC's 95 riders raised more than $1.2 million that will provide seed money for a new CAF headquarters facility.

At the closing awards barbeque, CAF was able to thank the fundraisers, donors, and sponsors who made this incredible day a reality. Also, award winners Heather LaCasse and Colleen Blackmore (Jim MacLaren Award), Jon Beeson (Sempra Energy Trailblazer Award), and Tricia Downing (Most Inspirational Challenged Athlete Award) were recognized, as well as this year's top fundraisers and Ironman World Triathlon Championship slot-winners: Bobby Bostic and Jeff Johnson.

Fundraising Check Presentation raising almost $2.5 million for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Photo credit: Tim Mantoani

"We are so very grateful to all who make this day possible," said Virginia Tinley, CAF executive director. "Without our sponsors, fundraisers, and donors, we simply wouldn't be able be able to put on this magical event, which truly changes the lives of physically challenged athletes."

The day ended with a beautiful sunset Southwest of the Cove. You can be sure however, that the sun will not soon set on the incredible memories created at the 13th Annual Sempra Energy San Diego Triathlon Challenge. Registration for the 14th Annual San Diego Triathlon Challenge opens January 2007.

For more information about CAF, visit www.challengedathletes.org