Established in 1997, the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is a unique organization that recognizes the athletic greatness inherent in all people with physical challenges and supports their athletic endeavors by providing grants for training, competition and equipment needs.  The Challenged Athletes Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.   Tax ID #33-0739596

CAF grew out of a desire to assist one athlete – trailblazing below-knee-amputee endurance racer Jim MacLaren – who suffered a devastating second accident while competing in a triathlon. Hit by a car during the bike leg, Jim was paralyzed from the neck down. His many friends quickly decided to raise funds for his recovery, and organized the first San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC) – an annual fundraising triathlon event at La Jolla Cove. From this modest beginning arose a more important mission – to make sure that people with physical challenges have the same freedom to enjoy sports that the rest of us take for granted.

To date CAF has raised more than $21 million providing handcycles, sportschairs, and hi-tech prosthetic limbs; while offering hope, confidence, and self-esteem along the way. CAF has positively impacted countless lives through its programs like Operation Rebound - helping veterans wounded while serving our country, Access for Athletes, Catch a Rising Star, the Emmanual Fund, and Reach High. To learn more about how CAF is making a difference, or to learn more about athletes like Scout, John, and Evan listed below, visit: http://www.challengedathletes.org/.

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Scout Bassett
Left and alone, Scout Bassett began her journey. At an early age, Scout lost her right leg due to severe burns. Later she was abandoned at a Chinese orphanage to endure hardship, abuse and child labor.

For years Scout hoped for something to change her fate, but her dreams seemed a lifetime away. Then when she least expected it, a miracle occurred and she was adopted by an American family at the age of seven, taking her from an uncertain future to a world of opportunity.

With help from CAF, her parents and prosthetist, Scout actively competes in tennis, golf, marathons and triathlons. Her relationship with Sarah Reinertsen over the years has also helped her overcome many challenges. In 2007, she qualified and competed in the ITU Triathlon World Championships in Hamberg, Germany, finishing in second in her division of her first international competition for triathlon. She claimed silver again in 2008 at the Vancouver Triathlon World Championships. Drive, determination, athletics and outstanding academic success has lead Scout to her next journey, attending UCLA on a full scholarship. She’s finished her freshman year and has flourished with strong grades, established a strong social network and acts as a Resident Assistant in the dormitories, all the while representing CAF as a spokesperson.

Scout is passionate about pursuing her athletic interests, educating people about the physically challenged and helping raise funds to allow remarkable individuals like herself to live active lifestyles. She is an inspiration for all to follow your dreams and live extraordinary lives. CAF enthusiastically supports Scouts in her athletic, personal and academic goals.

John Siciliano

John Siciliano is originally from Pittsburgh, PA.   In 1993 he earned the role of captain of Point Park College’s soccer team where he was also studying Theater and Journalism.  During summer of 1993, he was a passenger in a jeep that was struck by a drunk driver that resulted in an amputation of his right leg above the knee.   With hard training, he broke the 200 meter record in the 1996 Paralympic Trials and earned a spot on the US Paralympic team.  He stunned the crowd in the olympic stadium in Atlanta during the gold medal race when his prosthetic leg came loose and fell off.  Given a choice to lay on the ground and admit defeat, or get up and hop to the finish on his other leg, this amazing athlete decided that quitting is not an option and forever inspired the world by his actions.  John was recently married on August 8th and resides in Los Angeles with his wife Amy.  He has been seen on NCIS, ER, Scrubs, Days of Our Lives, Showtime’s “Sleeper Cell,”  FX’s “Over There,” and as Pokey the Pirate in “SpongeBob Sqarepants, The Movie.”   He was also the first amputee to appear on American Gladiators and is currently working on a documentary about paying it forward and mentoring amputees to achieve their goals.  

Evan Morgan, USMC
On January 1, 2005 while stationed in Al Quim, Iraq, on his second tour, Evan’s vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The 23- year-old U.S. Marine Corporal was the only one injured by the blast. As a result, Evan lost his right leg above the knee, his left leg below the knee and his sight in one eye. He spent three months at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. He was then transferred to the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX, as an outpatient.

Evan began to flourish while at BAMC. Shortly after arriving he began walking using Ossur’s Rheo-Knee, and married to the “love of his life” Jillian. He became a regular at the gym and even began running. Something had changed in Evan. He was active prior to the injury, but now activity became a necessary part of his life. “You can’t change the past,” said Evan, “so you do what you can with what you’ve been given.”

In 2006, Evan did the swim portion of the San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC). Recently, he competed in the swim and handcycle portions of the California Ironman 70.3. He hopes that by being active himself, he can be a positive influence and engage others to live active lifestyles. To top his list of accomplishments, Evan recently became a father with the birth of a beautiful baby girl.

The generosity of supporters like you has given Evan the opportunity to overcome his injuries through sport and motivate others to follow his lead.