Strava Announced as Title Sponsor for 2021 Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Community Challenge

September 1, 2021

Leading social network for athletes unites a global community to empower athletes with physical challenges and raise funds for CAF

SAN DIEGO, CA – (September 1, 2021) – Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is proud to announce its  flagship fundraising event this fall is now the, 2021 CAF Community Challenge, powered by Strava. This October, athletes of all abilities can connect to participate and record activities across multi-sports and raise funds for individuals with physical challenges. CAF’s mission aligns with Strava’s ethos to ‘strive’ and for 28 years has provided access to athletes with physical disabilities in over 103 different sports. The 2021 CAF Community Challenge, powered by Strava culminates with an extraordinary in-person weekend of events that will reunite the community and raise millions of dollars.

“Last year when we took our events virtual, we saw tremendous excitement and participation using the Strava platform,” said Nancy Reynolds, CAF Senior Director of Business Development. “Strava’s partnership and ongoing commitment to making sports more accessible and fun connects our mission and offers a unique feeling of camaraderie and competition with athletes of all abilities from all parts of the world.”

Open to everyone, the 2021 CAF Community Challenge, powered by Strava will take place from October 1 to October 24. Athletes of all abilities can participate by running, walking, rolling, swimming, cycling, fitness classes and much more. Collectively, participants will log and track their activity miles on Strava’s platform and enjoy challenges and contests with fundraising incentives to generate awareness and support for CAF. In parallel to the final weeks of the 2021 CAF Community Challenge, Strava will also host a global, all-activities challenge with opportunities to win sweepstakes prizes and contribute to CAF.

Strava’s technology connects over 90 million users worldwide and as of today, over 5 billion runs, rides, swims, hikes, and other activities have been uploaded. Since 2014, CAF athletes have played integral roles in driving technology innovation by expanding the functionality of wheelchair-related activities on the Strava platform, which now includes handcycle and wheelchair activity types. These innovations and the community building of Strava have inspired more and more CAF athletes to track their daily activities and training.

Beth and Liza James of Crested Butte, Colorado known as “Team Liza” are currently training for CAF’s Million Dollar Challenge 640-mile bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego. After tackling all these miles, they will join in the weekend triathlon in San Diego. Beth and her three kids were involved in a tragic car accident 16 years ago that left her youngest daughter Liza with a traumatic brain injury. Liza is now 24-years old and, while nonverbal and cannot walk on her own, she loves being outdoors and racing with her accomplished triathlete mom, Beth. Their very first triathlon was CAF’s San Diego Triathlon Challenge where Beth witnessed the sheer joy on Liza’s face swimming, biking, and running together. This mother-daughter team have since crossed many other finish lines together and always smiling.

Learn More: https://www.challengedathletes.org/communitychallenge/

About Strava

Strava is the social platform for athletes and the largest sports community in the world, with over 90 million athletes in 195 countries. If you sweat you’re an athlete, and Strava’s mobile apps and website connect millions of active people every day. Strava gives athletes simple, fun ways to stay motivated and compete against themselves and others without having to be in the same place at the same time. All athletes belong on Strava no matter where they live, which sport they love or what device they use. Join the community and make the most of your sport with a Strava subscription.

Our favorite stats:

• More than 5 billion activities have been shared on Strava
• Athletes in every country on earth
• More than 2 million new athletes join per month
• 40 million activities uploaded per week
• Over 30 million Segments
• Over 2,200 professional athletes on Strava
• 260 employees around the world, with offices in San Francisco, CA, Denver, CO and Bristol, UK
• 7.1 billion Kudos given between athletes last year
• Over 4 million photos shared per week
• Over 1,000 communities making commuting better with Strava Metro

About the Challenged Athletes Foundation

The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is a world leader in helping people with physical challenges lead active, healthy lifestyles. CAF believes that participation in physical activity at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.  Since 1994, more than $123 million has been raised and over 30,000 funding requests from people with physical challenges in all 50 states and dozens of countries have been satisfied. Additionally, CAF’s outreach efforts impact another 60,000 individuals each year. Whether it’s a $2,500 grant for a handcycle, helping underwrite a carbon fiber running foot not covered by insurance, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar challenge, CAF’s mission is clear: give opportunities and support to those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles. To learn more, visit challengedathletes.org or call 858-866-0959.

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