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Hanger > About Us > Newsroom > Press Release
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The amputee athletes of Team Hanger are gearing up for another excellent competition at the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) San Diego Triathlon Challenge in La Jolla Cove, California on October 25, 2009.
This 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run unfolds over one of the most breathtaking courses in the country and is a major fundraiser for the CAF, an organization that provides grants for training, competition and equipment needs for people with physical challenges. The hundreds of athletes assisted by CAF range from world class athletes competing on an international level to those who have recently faced physical disabilities and are intent on returning to an active lifestyle.
As a proud participant and sponsor of this event for 11 years, Hanger is pleased to introduce some of the athletes involved in this year's competition:
U.S. Army Ranger, Staff Sgt. Heath Calhoun was a squad leader with the 101st Airborne stationed in Mosul Iraq when his unit was attacked, resulting in the amputation of both legs above-the-knees in November 2003. Since his injury, he has cycled 4,200 miles coast to coast as a part of Soldier Ride with the Wounded Warrior Project, is an avid golfer, and enjoys driving his 5-speed Mustang Cobra. He continues to work with other bilateral above-knee amputees to show them what is possible as a full time prosthetic user. He is currently training as an alpine ski racer on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and hopes to represent the United States again and bring home the gold in the 2010 Paralympic Games.
Cameron Clapp was hit by a freight train, amputating both legs above-the-knees and his right arm almost to the shoulder in September 2001, at the age of 14-years-old. He was initially told he would never walk again but Cameron refused to give up. Since his injury, Cameron has competed in the 100, 200, and 400 meter sprint races at the annual Endeavor Games using high-tech running legs. He has been featured in national news, including the New York Times and People Magazine. He has also acted on the NBC series My Name is Earl and in the feature film, Stop Loss. He is a peer visitor who shares his story of recovery with other amputees to show them that anything is possible. This will be Cameron's 8th CAF Triathlon.
Lee Cardon lost his leg below the knee in a motorcycle accident 26 years ago. He is a certified prosthetist with Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics in Rancho Mirage, California. He is an avid cyclist and this month he completed the Hemet Double Century 200-mile race, finishing in 6th place. He also completed the Vineman 1/2 Ironman in 6:33, his first 1/2 Ironman competition.
Carrie Davis was born without her left arm and is participating on Team Hanger for her fifth year at CAF. She has participated in two National Triathlon Championships in NY on the USA Team, and has volunteered as a counselor / mentor for Camp No Limits, a camp for kids with limb deficiencies for the past five years. She is the National Coordinator for the Amputee Empowerment Partners, a team of over 400 volunteer amputee peer visitors and has served as the National Upper Extremity Patient Advocate for Hanger's Upper Extremity Specialist Team for nine years. Be sure to follow @AEP_Program on Twitter for live updates from the triathlon from Carrie.
Mark Barr was 14-years-old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer, necessitating the amputation of his right leg above-the-knee. After his amputation, he was unable to return to playing basketball and soccer at the level he was before so Mark focused on swimming. In high school, he joined his varsity swim team and secured a spot on Team USA in the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games. On Friday, he completed the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge, cycling 620 miles from San Francisco to San Diego.
Click here for more information on the Challenged Athletes Foundation. |
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