Challenged Athletes

CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION

Helping everyone enjoy Idaho’s outdoors By Gaye Bunderson

While sports activities may be great exercise hand, the 3-year-old’s family is allowing him to explore and and loads of fun, they can also cost a bundle see what interests him most in the world of sports – and that’s when equipment fees and participation one of the benefits of CAF-Idaho. It helps with clinics and expenses are added in. Now, imagine a other programs so the adaptive athlete has time to find what family that has a child with special needs. Medical and other he or she is most interested in. expenses incurred for the child’s care put a financial strain “The 3-year-old is being exposed to all the options,” on the family budget and don’t leave much left for sports and Skeesick said. recreation. But there’s an organization that steps up to pitch Sarah Palmer of Twin Falls is the mother of adaptive in with the costs that come with sports. It’s called Challenged athlete Jaxon, age 5. The child was born with spina bifida Athletes Foundation. and, as a result, also has a bilateral clubfoot. “For a long time,

Jennifer Skeesick, Idaho Regional Director of CAF, said of my husband and I were trying to figure out how Jaxon could the high cost of sports involvement: “We help so there is no have opportunities in sports. He’s always been active and financial barrier to the athletes.” wants to try things out.”

Challenged Athletes is a national foundation with a more The Palmers attended the Idaho Spina Bifida Fall Carnival than 25-year history, but the Idaho chapter is fairly new, having held on Halloween last October at the St. Luke’s Children’s launched in May 2019. “The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Hospital Specialty Center in Boise. CAF-Idaho had a vendor Foundation reached out to us a couple of years ago with a strong booth there and Sarah spoke personally with Jennifer Skeesick. interest in having an established adaptive sports community in “It was exciting,” Palmer said. She had finally found a way Idaho,” Skeesick explained. “They were motivated by Idaho’s for Jaxon to experience the thrill of sports. She answered a great outdoor opportunities, and they gave us a generous grant few questions and filled out a short survey, and before long, the to start and continue with CAF-Idaho.” family was on its way to Tamarack Resort for a CAF-Idaho

A former physical therapist who has always been around sports clinic. In January, Jaxon tried Nordic skiing. At a later the adaptive community, Skeesick went straight from that clinic, held in March, he attempted two new activities: sledge job and right into leading CAF-Idaho. “I left health care and hockey, a form of adaptive ice hockey, and wheelchair curling. leapt into CAF,” she said. “The best part of the Tamarack experience,” said his mom,

Individual athletes – or their families if they’re underage “was seeing how much joy Jaxon had while skiing. He was 4 – apply for grants from CAF-Idaho; at the time but he was able to ski and and with the grant money, they have interact with others who were new, but access to equipment, coaching, travel also with the professional athletes. He’s expenses to competitions, access to always had the mindset of trying things sports clinics, and participation in a out. But actually seeing it and seeing mentoring program. people like him doing it, he now knows

The chapter distributed 111 grants he’s capable. He’s able to experience it.” – totaling $231,538 – to adaptive The interactive part of the clinics also athletes in the Gem State since May benefited Jaxon. “He’s very social, so of 2019, according to an article he talks with everyone, plays with them, published March 27, 2020 at www. and wants to race with them,” Palmer BigCountryNewsConnection.com.* said. “Everyone cheers each other on.

CAF-Idaho is keen on open-air They’re rooting for each other.” activities. “We support indoor sports Palmer encourages other parents as well,” Skeesick said, “but we’re of adaptive children to explore CAFespecially big on the outdoors, sports Idaho. “Get involved. Don’t worry if like snow skiing, mountain biking, and your child is too young or it’s something hiking.” they can’t do. Everyone is working

There are currently 600 athletes together. There’s a lot of camaraderie.” in CAF-Idaho; the youngest is 3 Her husband, Niels, agrees. “CAFand the oldest is 94. A veteran, the nonagenarian was formerly a trail runner and now hikes. On the other Jaxon Palmer of Twin Falls, age 4 in this photo, was able to ski on his own while attending a sports clinic put on by the Idaho Chapter of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. (Courtesy photo) Idaho is adapting the sport, trying hard to make it work for everyone involved,” he said.

The Palmers said they didn’t know if Jaxon could handle the sports he tried – but he did.

The pandemic has affected the program a bit this year, but there have been Zoom calls and emails providing updates on plans for this fall and winter. “They want everyone to stay active, even if we can’t meet together yet,” Sarah Palmer said.

The CAF-Idaho program is comprised of many volunteers who themselves are challenged athletes. Also, CAF-Idaho teams with community partners such as BASE (Boise Adaptive Snowsport Education), parks and recreation departments, Higher Ground (highergroundusa. org), and Teton Adaptive (tetonadaptivesports.com). “There is a mutual support group of athletes,” said Skeesick.

Taylor Walker, a spokesperson for CAF, said, “We empower individuals with permanent physical challenges, with the goal of ensuring every Idahoan – no matter their ability – can access the mountains, lakes, trails and rivers we have throughout the state.”

All ages are welcome. For more information on the Idaho Chapter of the Challenged Athletes Foundation or to apply for a grant, visit https://www.challengedathletes.org/idaho.

* (The full article is available at https://www. bigcountrynewsconnection.com/idaho/idaho-chapter-of-challengedathletes-foundation-distributes-111-grants-totaling-over-231-500-toidaho/article_795901ca-7064-11ea-bb09-b3b0d2868626.html)

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