Encouragement and inspiration
Here are 2 stories… the 1st to encourage new or existing HSP athletes, and the 2nd for inspiration.
Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is a world leader in helping individuals with physical challenges get involved with sports. Their mission is to give those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles every opportunity to compete in the sports they love.
Although U.S. based, they gave grants to athletes from 29 countries in the last year alone.
Access for Athletes — the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s® (CAF) flagship program — steps in where rehabilitation and health insurance end by providing funding grants for equipment such as sports wheelchairs, handcycles, mono skis and sports prosthetics, and resources for training and competition expenses directly to physically challenged individuals.
Access for Athletes surmounts financial impediments to participation in sports, ensuring that challenged athletes are not left on the sidelines because they can’t afford expensive equipment or training costs. CAF believes participating in sports not only increases challenged athletes’ physical fitness and activity levels, but also enhances their confidence and self-esteem.
A US HSPer who’s been doing “running events” on his regular wheelchair recently purchased a race wheelchair and CAF is providing money to buy special wheels for the chair.
You need to apply online between 1 September and 1 December 2014 for a grant. Grant awards will be announced in early April 2015. Read the FAQs
HSPer competing at the World Equestrian Games
Rebecca Hart is an inspiration to many. Para-equestrian champion Rebecca Hart of the USA proves that having a disability doesn’t derail your dreams. The 6 time US national champion has also placed 4th at the Para-Olympics in both 2008 and 2012.
Read the full story.
Watch the video.