CAF, Ossur Partner To Help Amputees Achieve Their Dreams

Jim MacLaren set the world record for amputees in 1992 in the Ironman World Championship. Just a few months later, he was struck by a van while on his bike and was left quadriplegic. The Challenged Athletes Foundation, Del Mar, California, and Ossur North America, Aliso Viejo, California, announced a partnership May 7 to help people with disabilities take one step further in living "a life without limitations."

On hand for the announcement was legendary amputee athlete Jim MacLaren. In 1992, MacLaren set the world record for amputees in the Ironman World Championship in Kona with a time of 10:42. He wore as a prosthetic foot the revolutionary new prosthesis called a Mod 3 by Flex-Foot (now Ossur North America). The new foot was a technological breakthrough for amputees and made it possible for extraordinary athletes like Jim to not only finish an event like Ironman, but also to finish in the top 20 percent of the entire field. His accomplishment cemented him as a legend and role model to thousands of amputees around the world.

In 1993, just months after his Ironman finish, Jim was competing on a closed course triathlon in Orange County and was hit by a van while on his bike and left a quadriplegic. People from the sport of triathlon gathered to create a fundraiser called the San Diego Triathlon Challenge. The goal was to buy Jim an adaptable van. "The first thing that happens when a person becomes disabled is they lose their independence," said Bob Babbitt, co-founder of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). "We wanted to give Jim back something that he lost."

After Jim's needs were met, organizers looked to the many challenged athletes who had come to the triathlon to support Jim and who had been inspired by his spirit and tenacity. In 1997, the CAF was created to help more challenged athletes, like Jim, who desired to reach beyond their limitations. Since then, over $4.8 million has been raised and over 1,300 challenged athletes have been assisted. "We look back at the last ten years with pride at all the challenged athletes that have been helped as a result of the work at the CAF, "said Tabi King, CAF director of development. "However, we look to the next decade with greater anticipation as we launch a new program called "Catch a Rising Star" that will provide mentorship and fitness opportunities for people with disabilities." Role models like McLaren and advanced prosthetic technology have helped amputees achieve great success, King pointed out. "There are amputees who run 100 meters in just over 11 seconds. They have scaled Mt. Everest and they have run for seven days straight through the Sahara Desert. And this fall, above-knee amputee Sarah Reinertsen will become the first amputee woman to finish the Ironman World Championship in Kona."

She continued, "Our goal is to provide a program that allows amputees to pursue a balanced life of career, family, and fitness through the guidance of a mentor. Everyone has an Ironman to finish. It may be as simple as dancing with a spouse or walking a mile. Because of Ossur's technology and CAF, anyone can finish their Ironman, whatever it may be."

As a partner of CAF, Ossur will be the presenting sponsor of "Catch a Rising Star," title sponsor of the National Amputee Leg Championships, and a platinum sponsor of the San Diego Triathlon Challenge. "We are looking forward to this stronger, more integrated relationship with the Challenged Athletes Foundation and doing more to support the amputee community in their pursuit to live a life without limitations," said Oddny Bjornsdottir, director of marketing for Ossur North America.

For more information about CAF visit www.challengedathletes.org

CAF, Ossur Partner To Help Amputees Achieve Their Dreams

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CAF, Ossur Partner To Help Amputees Achieve Their Dreams

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