Challenged Athletes Foundation gives 7 million dollars to 4,033 adaptive athletes

For thousands of athletes with physical disabilities, the difference between sitting on the sidelines and competing can come down to equipment most people never think about: a racing wheelchair, a sports prosthesis, a handcycle. In 2026, the Challenged Athletes Foundation closed much of that gap, distributing more than 7 million dollars in grants to 4,033 athletes across all 50 US states, Puerto Rico and 36 countries.

The grants fund the practical things that make adaptive sport possible, from sport chairs and handcycles to running prostheses, coaching, travel and competition fees. Nearly a quarter of recipients were first-time applicants, and many came from households earning under 50,000 dollars a year, the kind of families for whom specialised equipment costing thousands would otherwise be out of reach.

“In 2026, the Challenged Athletes Foundation closed much of that gap, distributing more than 7 million dollars in grants to 4,033 athletes across all 50 US states, Puerto Rico and 36 countries.”

Behind the figures are individual lives. The foundation highlighted athletes such as Amy, who lives with multiple sclerosis and competes in gruelling endurance races; Shine, an eight-year-old already taking part in running, triathlon, swimming and adaptive skiing; and Andrew, who returned to sport through adaptive surfing after a spinal cord injury. For each of them, a grant translated into greater independence, stronger physical and mental health, and a renewed sense of belonging.

The ripple effects reach the elite level too: more than two-thirds of the athletes who competed at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games had previously received CAF grant support. But the foundation's deeper message is that sport should be open to everyone, regardless of disability or income. By removing the financial barriers that keep so many on the sidelines, the Challenged Athletes Foundation is helping thousands discover what their bodies can still do, and what it feels like to belong on a starting line.