Empowering Lives Through Sport
CHALLENGED ATHLETEs FOUNDATION
View recent grants awarded at past Toyota Sports Festivals below:
Toyota Sports Fest - NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
Judah Scarbrough : Judah Scarbrough is a 2nd grade student at The Henry Viscardi School in New York. When she was 10 months old, Judah contracted Guillian-Barre Syndrome which resulted in paralysis of both lower extremities and lower back.
Judah loves wheelchair basketball, but has been playing in her everyday chair which limits her mobility and skill development. She is excited to play competitively with her friends and, as one of three girls on the team, her mother states that she has seen an improvement in Judah’s self-esteem and strength.
Judah will benefit from a custom-fitted wheelchair that will help her train and compete on the same level as her peers.
Toyota Sports Fest - NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
Adan Persad: Adan Persad, born with Spina Bifida, is a determined 15-year-old sophomore residing in the lower east side of Manhattan. He has found his true passion in the exhilarating world of wheelchair basketball.
With a steadfast devotion to the sport, he spends his free time honing his skills, whether it be watching riveting matches or practicing tirelessly on the court. As a proud member of the esteemed New York Rolling Fury for the past 5 years, Adan has not only found a community of like-minded individuals, but an extended family that shares and supports his unwavering love for the game.
A custom-fit basketball wheelchair will provide Adan with greater opportunities to advance his skills and help his team reach the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s national tournament.
Toyota Sports Fest - NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
Melanie Mejia : Melanie Mejia is an 8th grade student at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Lodi, New Jersey who contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome in 2016. Melanie lost the ability to perform most daily tasks and spent several months in the hospital before regaining strength in her upper body. She discovered adaptive sport through swimming to help her regain strength and mobility in her legs and has also participated in archery, and track & field.
While each of these sports provide a therapeutic benefit, Melanie has found a community of friends with the North Jersey Navigators adaptive sport club. She trains and competes alongside other youth with disabilities and has opportunities to explore many adaptive sports in a positive and empowering environment. A grant to attend Move United Nationals will provide Melanie with her first opportunity to compete nationally as an adaptive athlete.
Toyota Sports Fest - NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
Mikhail “MJ” Catuncan: MJ Catuncan is a 7th grade student at St. Michael School in Union, New Jersey and a multisport athlete with the North Jersey Navigators adaptive sport club. Diagnosed at birth with achondroplasia – the most common form of dwarfism – MJ struggled through his first year of life, but has since competed in many sports.
MJ excels in track and field, swimming, and holds a black belt in Taekwondo. He also plays soccer, basketball, cycles with his father, and surfs! He has a future goal of competing in the Paralympics and credits sports with improving his mobility, social skills, and self-esteem.
MJ plans to compete in track, field, and swim events at the largest amateur adaptive sports competition in the U.S. – the Move United Nationals – this summer. A grant from CAF + Toyota will help him and his family with travel expenses so he can bring home lots of medals.
Toyota Sports Fest - NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
Angel Urmeneta : Angel Urmeneta is a 5th grade student at Francis J. O’Neill Elementary School in Central Islip, NY. Born with Spina Bifida, Angel started playing wheelchair basketball in the past year with the New York Rolling Fury.
Training and competing in wheelchair basketball has helped Angel to become physically stronger and more active. He is now part of a community of supportive coaches and players that have become close friends and have introduced him to other adaptive sports.
Angel will benefit from a custom-fitted wheelchair that will help him improve his mobility on the court and develop skills to take him to the next level.
Toyota Sports Fest - CHICAGO Auto Show
Makary Sekulich: Makary Sekulich is a 14 year-old multisport athlete who excels in wheelchair basketball and swimming with Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association. Makary was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at two years of age and began swimming at five. He has been playing wheelchair basketball for 6 years and has improved from barely making a basket to averaging 16 points per game!
Makary’s participation in adaptive sport provides physical activity, competition, and a feeling of community with people who accept him for who he is. As he continues to chase dreams of becoming a Paralympian in wheelchair basketball, a new custom-fit basketball wheelchair will be essential to helping him keep developing his skills in the sport he loves.
Toyota Sports Fest - NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
Judah Scarbrough : Judah Scarbrough is a 2nd grade student at The Henry Viscardi School in New York. When she was 10 months old, Judah contracted Guillian-Barre Syndrome which resulted in paralysis of both lower extremities and lower back.
Judah loves wheelchair basketball, but has been playing in her everyday chair which limits her mobility and skill development. She is excited to play competitively with her friends and, as one of three girls on the team, her mother states that she has seen an improvement in Judah’s self-esteem and strength.
Judah will benefit from a custom-fitted wheelchair that will help her train and compete on the same level as her peers.
Toyota Sports Fest - Chicago AUTO SHOW
Makary Sekulich: Makary Sekulich is a 14 year-old multisport athlete who excels in wheelchair basketball and swimming with Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association. Makary was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at two years of age and began swimming at five. He has been playing wheelchair basketball for 6 years and has improved from barely making a basket to averaging 16 points per game!
Makary’s participation in adaptive sport provides physical activity, competition, and a feeling of community with people who accept him for who he is. As he continues to chase dreams of becoming a Paralympian in wheelchair basketball, a new custom-fit basketball wheelchair will be essential to helping him keep developing his skills in the sport he loves.
Toyota Sports Fest - Chicago Auto Show
Ann Collins-Dole : Ann Collins-Dole is 77 years-old and recovering from the effects of a stroke that occurred in 2021. The stroke resulted in partial paralysis to the right side of her body as well as decreased capacity to speak. Several months of rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab helped Ann return home and introduced her to adaptive cycling.
An avid cyclist prior to her injury, Ann rode her bike most places in addition to her regular workouts and yoga. Participating in adaptive cycling provides her with a sense of freedom that she hasn’t felt since before her stroke and she is seeking a recumbent trike that will allow her to ride whenever she wants. Her upcoming goals are to ride in multiple cycling events, including the Bike the Drive, which she has ridden with her daughter and grandchildren for the past 14 years.
Toyota Sports Fest - CHICAGO Auto Show
Ann Collins-Dole : Ann Collins-Dole is 77 years-old and recovering from the effects of a stroke that occurred in 2021. The stroke resulted in partial paralysis to the right side of her body as well as decreased capacity to speak. Several months of rehabilitation at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab helped Ann return home and introduced her to adaptive cycling.
An avid cyclist prior to her injury, Ann rode her bike most places in addition to her regular workouts and yoga. Participating in adaptive cycling provides her with a sense of freedom that she hasn’t felt since before her stroke and she is seeking a recumbent trike that will allow her to ride whenever she wants. Her upcoming goals are to ride in multiple cycling events, including the Bike the Drive, which she has ridden with her daughter and grandchildren for the past 14 years.
Toyota Sports Fest - CHICAGO Auto Show
Jada Hendricks-Cox: Jada Hendricks-Cox is 10 years-old and a fourth-grader at Poe Elementary in Chicago. Born with fibular hemimelia, Jada’s lower right left limb was amputated so she could pursue a more active life with the assistance of prosthetics. That decision has allowed her to flourish in a variety of sports – Jada is a runner, dancer, basketball player, swimmer, and rock climber. Her upcoming goals are to become more competitive in dance and compete at the 2023 Great Lakes Adaptive Sports (GLASA) Games in a multiple events.
Jada’s mother, Khyrsta, credits adaptive sports with boosting Jada’s confidence and helping her to create more friendships. A CAF grant will support Jada to keep training and competing in the sports she loves.
Toyota Sports Fest - CHICAGO Auto Show
Jada Hendricks-Cox: Jada Hendricks-Cox is 10 years-old and a fourth-grader at Poe Elementary in Chicago. Born with fibular hemimelia, Jada’s lower right left limb was amputated so she could pursue a more active life with the assistance of prosthetics. That decision has allowed her to flourish in a variety of sports – Jada is a runner, dancer, basketball player, swimmer, and rock climber. Her upcoming goals are to become more competitive in dance and compete at the 2023 Great Lakes Adaptive Sports (GLASA) Games in a multiple events.
Jada’s mother, Khyrsta, credits adaptive sports with boosting Jada’s confidence and helping her to create more friendships. A CAF grant will support Jada to keep training and competing in the sports she loves.
Toyota Sports Fest - CHICAGO Auto Show
Jonathan Annicks: Jonathan Annicks was 18 years-old when he was shot in a random act of violence. The encounter resulted in paraplegia and Jonathan’s life veered in a different direction. In the months that followed, he completed high school and went on to start college, but he felt defeated and depressed as he adjusted to life after his injury.
Jonathan was invited to try wheelchair softball by a good friend at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital. Through sport and a supportive community, Jonathan rediscovered the motivation to complete college and secure a job at Schwab where he leads an adaptive sport program. To this point, he has been competing in wheelchair softball using a borrowed, ill-fitting chair. A new custom-fit wheelchair will help Jonathan develop skills to match his competitive fire.
Toyota Sports Fest - CHICAGO Auto Show
Jonathan Annicks: Jonathan Annicks was 18 years-old when he was shot in a random act of violence. The encounter resulted in paraplegia and Jonathan’s life veered in a different direction. In the months that followed, he completed high school and went on to start college, but he felt defeated and depressed as he adjusted to life after his injury.
Jonathan was invited to try wheelchair softball by a good friend at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital. Through sport and a supportive community, Jonathan rediscovered the motivation to complete college and secure a job at Schwab where he leads an adaptive sport program. To this point, he has been competing in wheelchair softball using a borrowed, ill-fitting chair. A new custom-fit wheelchair will help Jonathan develop skills to match his competitive fire.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Marlene Moran: Sports have positively impacted Marlene’s life by giving her confidence, activity has introduced her to an amazing and supportive community. She absolutely loves to dance in her wheelchair and is eager to move her body as much as she can.
Toyota granted Marlene with a competition grant to help her participate in her wheelchair dance camp during the summer.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Marlene Moran: Sports have positively impacted Marlene’s life by giving her confidence, activity has introduced her to an amazing and supportive community. She absolutely loves to dance in her wheelchair and is eager to move her body as much as she can.
Toyota granted Marlene with a competition grant to help her participate in her wheelchair dance camp during the summer.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Alexis Romero: Alexis was injured in an accident in 2018. Sports gave him the chance to appreciate anything he did not before his accident, friends, family, support. His goal is to be able to keep participating in all major races around the world.
Toyota granted Alexis with a top end eliminator OSR U Cage racing wheelchair so he can continue to compete in triathlons and other sports.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Alexis Romero: Alexis was injured in an accident in 2018. Sports gave him the chance to appreciate anything he did not before his accident, friends, family, support. His goal is to be able to keep participating in all major races around the world.
Toyota granted Alexis with a top end eliminator OSR U Cage racing wheelchair so he can continue to compete in triathlons and other sports.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Cruz Melendez: Cruz was hit by a drunk driver in May of 2022 and spent 88 days in the hospital undergoing 16 surgeries. Unfortunately, the doctors could not save Cruz’s lower leg and foot and had to amputate.
Toyota granted Cruz with a customized Ossur running leg so that he could continue to compete in Triathlon and explore other sports.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Cruz Melendez: Cruz was hit by a drunk driver in May of 2022 and spent 88 days in the hospital undergoing 16 surgeries. Unfortunately, the doctors could not save Cruz’s lower leg and foot and had to amputate.
Toyota granted Cruz with a customized Ossur running leg so that he could continue to compete in Triathlon and explore other sports.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Rajesh Garg: Rajesh began to experience reduced strength in his legs at age 4 after contracting the polio virus. As a child in India, he played cricket, but the limited use of his legs made it difficult to enjoy sports. Rajesh started playing wheelchair sports in 2021 which rekindled his athletic spirit. Participating in wheelchair basketball and tennis has brought him tremendous happiness and motivation and his skills will surely improve with a custom-built sport wheelchair.
Toyota granted Rajesh with a Per4Max Thunder sport wheelchair so he can continue to play wheelchair basketball and tennis.
Toyota Sports Fest - LA Auto Show
Rajesh Garg: Rajesh began to experience reduced strength in his legs at age 4 after contracting the polio virus. As a child in India, he played cricket, but the limited use of his legs made it difficult to enjoy sports. Rajesh started playing wheelchair sports in 2021 which rekindled his athletic spirit. Participating in wheelchair basketball and tennis has brought him tremendous happiness and motivation and his skills will surely improve with a custom-built sport wheelchair.
Toyota granted Rajesh with a Per4Max Thunder sport wheelchair so he can continue to play wheelchair basketball and tennis.
Toyota Sports Fest - Winter 2022
Genevieve & Cole Rohner – Two of three triplets, born prematurely at 28 weeks and with lots of medical issues. They were both diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at one and half years old. Genevieve has been riding almost a decade and has been training for a long time to go to the 2024 Paralympics.
Cole has been skating since he was two years old and over the years as he watched his brother compete in skating, he asked if he could also. In 2021, U.S. Figure Skating included Adaptive events at the annual National Showcase competition and Cole got a chance to compete and earned a gold medal!
Toyota Sports Fest - Winter 2022
Genevieve & Cole Rohner – Two of three triplets, born prematurely at 28 weeks and with lots of medical issues. They were both diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at one and half years old. Genevieve has been riding almost a decade and has been training for a long time to go to the 2024 Paralympics.
Cole has been skating since he was two years old and over the years as he watched his brother compete in skating, he asked if he could also. In 2021, U.S. Figure Skating included Adaptive events at the annual National Showcase competition and Cole got a chance to compete and earned a gold medal!
Toyota Sports Fest - Winter 2022
Travis Carpenter – Travis’s left leg was completely amputated (hip disarticulation) in April of 2021 after ongoing impacts to the bones from tumors along the nerves throughout the leg occurred due to him having the genetic condition, Neurofibromatosis (NF) Type 1. He has played wheelchair tennis on and off with the Utah Tennis Association (USTA) program since around 2012.
His upcoming goals are to continue to get stronger with wheelchair basketball to play with a 10-foot hoop, and to continue to improve at wheelchair tennis so that he can continue to play this sport through my life.
Toyota Sports Fest - Winter 2022
Travis Carpenter – Travis’s left leg was completely amputated (hip disarticulation) in April of 2021 after ongoing impacts to the bones from tumors along the nerves throughout the leg occurred due to him having the genetic condition, Neurofibromatosis (NF) Type 1. He has played wheelchair tennis on and off with the Utah Tennis Association (USTA) program since around 2012.
His upcoming goals are to continue to get stronger with wheelchair basketball to play with a 10-foot hoop, and to continue to improve at wheelchair tennis so that he can continue to play this sport through my life.
Toyota Sports Fest - Winter 2022
Shelby Jensen – Shelby had a stroke when she was 7 years old, and the stroke was caused by a brain aneurysm. The doctors had to do brain surgery to clip of the aneurysm and when they clipped off the aneurysm, she had another stroke which led to right-side hemiparesis. She has had some amazing experiences in adaptive sports, and she has done sports such as archery, biking, softball, and wheelchair fencing which she is in now.
Shelby just got back from the Tokyo Paralympics which was her first goal. She is looking forward to the next three years, leading up to Paris 2024. After that, she hopes to go to Los Angeles in 2028.
Toyota Sports Fest - Winter 2022
Shelby Jensen – Shelby had a stroke when she was 7 years old, and the stroke was caused by a brain aneurysm. The doctors had to do brain surgery to clip of the aneurysm and when they clipped off the aneurysm, she had another stroke which led to right-side hemiparesis. She has had some amazing experiences in adaptive sports, and she has done sports such as archery, biking, softball, and wheelchair fencing which she is in now.
Shelby just got back from the Tokyo Paralympics which was her first goal. She is looking forward to the next three years, leading up to Paris 2024. After that, she hopes to go to Los Angeles in 2028.