[1] It is founded in the belief that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.
The Foundation does this by providing funding for training, competition, rehabilitation, and equipment for the challenged athletes.
Challenged Athletes Foundation was founded in 1997 in response to below-knee-amputee endurance racer Jim MacLaren who suffered an accident while competing in a triathlon.
[citation needed] The following are programs which CAF offers or supports: The Challenged Athletes Foundation holds a number of high-profile fund raising events in order to raise money to support disabled athletes to compete in sports.
These include CAF events the San Diego Triathlon Challenge; Million Dollar Challenge; Heroes, Heart and Hope Gala held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, Hawaii Revisited; Tour de Cove; Rock on the Green and numerous other events under the banner of Race for a Reason.