<img class="" style="float: right;" src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2006-01_04/Traith-100_1156.jpg" width="225" height="169" hspace="4" vspace="4" /> The crisp air was filled with anticipation as countless swimmers assembled on the beach of La Jolla Cove under a flawless morning sky for the first portion of the 12th Annual San Diego Triathlon October 30. The eagerly awaited event is the primary fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Participants, relatives, and friends greeted one another with hugs and handshakes and posed for photographs as the swimmers stretched and donned their swim caps. The race began in two waves: one start for the individual participants and another for the teams. This reporter stood on the beach in awe of it all, inspired, moved, and caught up in the excitement. The race was a perfect first introduction to the O&P community for this longtime technology journalist. I learned two valuable lessons that day: that limits are only what we place upon ourselves and to never wear shoes and socks on the beach (a fact of which this Colorado gal was not aware). Before the race, the 104 physically challenged athletes participating in the event were introduced and their athletic accomplishments announced, to the applause of hundreds of participants and supporters. CAF also announced "Operation Rebound," the foundation's newest program, which brought 11 wounded soldiers from the Iraq war to La Jolla Cove to participate in the San Diego Triathlon Challenge. Top fundraising honors went to Dan Powell, who raised more than $122,000, reaching a lifetime total of $309,000. Bobby Bostic raised $82,000, for a lifetime total of $349,000; and Scott Stackman, a first-time CAF fundraiser, rounded out the top three with nearly $50,000 raised. An impressive $159,000 was raised by 175 riders in the stationary bike spinathon, The Tour de Cove, held in conjunction with the triathlon. The next generation of challenged athletes was well represented, with Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Cameron Clapp, Johnny O'Neill, Roderick Sewell, and Roy Perkins Jr. showing the way for a fresh crop of bilateral leg amputees. Rudy even led the bilateral "posse" on a run around the Cove area, culminating in a wild sprint across the finish line to the resounding cheers of hundreds of spectators. Another buzz heard through the weekend was the opening of <i>Emmanuel's Gift</i>, the award-winning documentary film about the life and accomplishments of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who also was a participant in the triathlon. On Saturday afternoon Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern were recognized for their work to bring Emmanuel's inspiring story of triumph and courage to film. The Ghanian man, born with a severely deformed right leg, has bicycled his way across Ghana to change perceptions and politics about people with disabilities. <h4>Paralympic Committee, Otto Bock Extend Partnership</h4> The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Otto Bock HealthCare, based in Duderstadt, Germany, have signed a partnership agreement making Otto Bock a Worldwide Partner of the Paralympic Movement until the end of 2008 in the product categories of Therapeutic Medical Devices and Rehabilitation and Mobility Healthcare Products. IPC President Sir Philip Craven, IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez, Dr. Helmut Pfuhl, Otto Bock's chief marketing officer/strategic business planning, and Joachim Hamacher, Otto Bock director of corporate communication, signed the agreement during a signing ceremony and press conference following an IPC Governing Board meeting in Beijing, China, the week of November 14. Craven commented, "With this partnership, Otto Bock and the IPC have set the direction for a joint future. Both organizations are committed to the continued growth of the Paralympic Movement. Athletes train for years to qualify for a competition," he added. "Equipment problems must not stop them from reaching their goals. Thus, the IPC and Otto Bock share a passion for excellence, as well as the desire to support Paralympic athletes in their quest for sporting achievement, allowing athletes to inspire and excite the world." Otto Bock has supported the Paralympic Movement and its athletes with its products and services for several years. <h4>Amputeam Basketball Raises Hurricane Relief Funds</h4> <img class="" style="float: right;" src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2006-01_04/AmpuTeam-BsktbllDSCN0113.jpg" width="254" height="136" hspace="4" vspace="4" /> In the second installment of the Amputeam Basketball Challenge, sponsored by Wright & Filippis, Rochester Hills, Michigan, the Amputeam Spartans took on the Beaumont Hospital All-Stars. The event was held on October 6 in Royal Oak, Michigan, with proceeds from the joint venture to benefit the American Red Cross in its ongoing efforts to assist hurricane victims. The event raised $3,550 for the Red Cross. The Amputeam Spartans is a team composed solely of lower-extremity amputees playing full-court, five on five basketball with no adaptations to the game. The team was put together by Brad Shebib, MPT, Wright & Filippis' prosthetic gait specialist, in an effort to raise awareness of amputee abilities, foster relationships between Wright & Filippis and local hospitals, and begin the process of creating amputee basketball as a full-time Paralympic sport. "We were surprised to discover that the Paralympics do not have amputee basketball as an event, even with the popularity of wheelchair basketball," said Shebib. "We felt this would be a wonderful opportunity to raise the community awareness that these guys can play--and play well. It is our goal, long-term, to create a Paralympic team for the United States." <h4>First Volley Clinics Added</h4> The Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund Inc. (OPAF) has scheduled one more First Volley clinic. First Volley is an adaptive tennis clinic for amputees and orthotic wearers The clinic is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, 2006, at 5 PM at Bucks County Racquet Club in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. There will be an introduction of participants, group and one-on-one instruction, and free time to play. Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. The clinics are free of charge to participants and their families. The First Volley program was launched last August and was the brainchild of Robin Burton, OPAF executive director, and Darren Kindred. "We can envision First Volley growing very rapidly to a national level, as there is a need for excellent adaptive tennis instruction and a desire by the O&P community for these kinds of opportunities," said Burton. For details contact Burton at <a href="mailto:rlb@opfund.org">rlb@opfund.org</a> or 215.752.5756. The Mutual Amputee Aid Foundation (MAAF), Redondo Beach, California, announced its own plans to start up a First Volley program in southern California in January. The southern California effort is being organized by MAAF member Phil Tamoush. He can be reached via e-mail at <a href="mailto:philip@tamoush.com">philip@tamoush.com</a> or by calling 310.540.3921. <h4>Australian Amputee Hockey Players Begin Training</h4> <img class="" style="float: right;" src="https://opedge.com/Content/OldArticles/images/2006-01_04/AusAmpHockey.jpg" width="238" height="170" hspace="4" vspace="4" /> Amputee standing ice hockey has come "Down Under." Several players have started training together in Lilydale, Australia. The players received the opportunity in November, due to the collaborative efforts of Ben Cridland, Queensland, Australia, and Ren Gallet, Victoria, Australia, under the guidance of Mark Pitkin, PhD, president of the International Standing Ice Hockey Federation (ISIHF), and Don Wade, chairman of the Canadian Amputee Hockey Committee (CAHC). Cridland and Gallet were able to organize rink time, arrange equipment for another player, and gain access to the coaching staff of the Lilydale Rats hockey club, Pitkin said. With more than 20 years of experience between Cridland and Gallet, Nic Burton, a newcomer to the sport, had plenty of support for his first full training session. After a full hour of line-to-line skating, basic horseshoe drills, and puck handling exercises, Burton was ready for a four-on-four game of shinny. "Nic was impressive with how quickly he was picking up skills that would make him the future of Australian Amputee Ice Hockey," said Cridland. With Tim Davies set to join the team as goaltender for the next training session in December, the Australian Amputee Ice Hockey Team is on its way to being competitive on the international stage, according to Pitkin. Davies previously represented Victoria as a goaltender. Standing Amputee Hockey has been approved and sanctioned by the Federated Body for Australian Ice Hockey--Ice Hockey Australia. For more information, visit <a href="https://opedge.com/2905">www.iha.org.au</a>
