2018 Team CAF Athletes- The Next Generation

David FangerowSport

: Running
City: San Diego, CA
Grant: Össur Cheetah Jr. (x2)
Bio: David wants to run faster than a cheetah. Like any 6-year-old, he can’t wait to play sports and participate in school events with his peers. David was born missing his arm below the elbow and both of his legs below the knee. His CAF grant for Össur Cheetah running legs will give him the speed of his dreams and endless possibilities in the future.
Motto: “Run, Jump, Play!”
Disability: Amputee

Samuel Calkins

Sport

: Baseball
City: Ringgold, GA
Grant: Össur Cheetah Xplore Jr. (x2)
Bio: Sam is an active 9-year-old boy who loves all sports, but has a special passion for baseball. Despite the challenges he faces as a bilateral below knee amputee since the age of seven, Sam’s love for the game keeps him coming back every year to compete alongside his peers without disabilities. Sam’s CAF grant for Össur Cheetah running legs will allow him to keep up with his teammates, run with ease and remain competitive in the sport that he loves ““ as a pitcher, outfielder and third baseman.
Motto: “Never say “˜I can’t’.”
Disability: Amputee

Grace Lockwood

Sport

: Swimming
City: San Diego, CA
Grant: Funding for Para World Series of Swimming
Bio: Grace feels most alive when she’s in the water swimming and competing. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy in 2012, and as a freshman in high school, has already found success in multiple national swimming races. A CAF grant for funding to the Para World Series of Swimming will help Grace on her quest to inform others about the power of adaptive athletics, and also take her one step closer to her ultimate dream of swimming in the Paralympics.
Quote: “Starting high school, and a new swim team, all within the same month. For someone like me who struggles with change, that was tough. But having friends and organizations like CAF that help to inspire me, and always continue to push me along when it’s hard for me to do it alone, make the dark seem light.”
Motto: “There’s a fire inside of me that I can always reach, no matter how difficult things may seem in that moment.”
Disability: Cerebral Palsy

Ella Rodriguez

Sport:

Wheelchair Basketball
City: Santa Clara, CA
Grant: Competition/Travel grant for two national wheelchair basketball tournaments
Bio: Ella is a 13-year-old girl who does it all. She serves as her ASB president, volunteers and participates in any sport possible including dance, cross country, track and field and wheelchair basketball. Ella was born with a congenital limb deficiency and as a kid, wrote a letter to Santa asking for a friend who had a prosthetic like her. Ella’s wish was granted tenfold after attending SDTC and joining the CAF community where hundreds of kids just like her are living out the active lives they desire. This year, Ella is focusing on improving her skills in wheelchair basketball with a CAF grant for competition/travel expenses to two national wheelchair basketball tournaments.
Quote: “Now I am part of the CAF family, where I know I am not alone, but part of a very special community where I feel empowered and inspired to be the best I can be. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if not for CAF.”
Motto: “It isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey.”
Disability: Amputee/Limb Deficiency

Logan Passe

Sport

: Handcycling
City: Brooklyn, NY
Grant: Lil Excelerator 2 (Handcycle)
Bio: Logan is best described by his family and friends as a resilient and determined 8-year-old who loves the outdoors. He was born with congenital tibial hemimelia and his legs were amputated before the age of two. Logan can’t wait to ride his new CAF granted handcycle, which will help him cycle to the best of his ability and try out for local sports events.
Motto: “Determination and structure is the key to winning.”
Disability: Amputee (below and above knee), Paraplegic

Parker Givens

Sport

: Swimming
City: St. Louis, MO
Grant: Swimming Training/Coaching Expenses
Bio: Parker is a strong student and alongside his lofty athletic goals of qualifying for the Paralympic swim team, hopes to become a civil engineer one day. Parker has a condition that impairs his vision and reduces his sight to a tiny sliver, making sports that involve catching and throwing too difficult. He discovered swimming as a great way to remain active and involved with his peers. A CAF swimming grant for training and coaching expenses will allow Parker to continue competing at meets alongside athletes with and without disabilities.
Motto: “I tell myself three things when I’m swimming: “˜dig deep’, “˜focus’ and “˜push yourself'”.
Disability: Visually impaired

Daniel Malloy

Sport

: Wheelchair basketball, Sled Hockey
City: Washington D.C
Grant: Per4Max Basketball Chair
Bio: In the last two years, Daniel has competed in the Wheelchair Basketball Nationals, earning “All Conference Player” and “Player of the Month” by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. Daniel initially got started in the sport after his legs began to lose function due to Spina Bifida. CAF is supporting Daniel’s dreams to play wheelchair basketball at the collegiate level and eventually in the Paralympics with a grant for a new Per4Max basketball chair.
Motto: As stated in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.
Disability: Spina Bifida