Cody McCasland
Born with a condition called sacral agenesis which resulted in missing
his tibias, seven year-old Cody McCasland’s legs were amputated
through the knee when he was just 15 months old. He showed his
true colors when only two months later he was walking on prosthetics
and mobile like any other kid his age. Eager to run like the other
kids, Cody received his first pair of running
legs by the age of five and hasn’t stopped
since.
Cody and the McCasland family were first
introduced to the Challenged Athletes
Foundation (CAF) in 2007 when they attended a CAF Catch a Rising
Star mobility and running clinic. He worked with certified prosthetist
and gait specialist Peter Harsch and elite challenged athletes at the
clinic to improve his running and gait while using his new running
legs. Just months later, he entered nearly every track event he
could at his first Endeavor Games at the University of Central
Oklahoma. Also an avid swimmer, he brought home several gold medals for his age and
classification in both disciplines.
With aspirations of following Rudy Garcia-Tolson’s footsteps of competing in the Paralympics in
swimming, the possibilities for Cody are endless. But, even at only nine years-old, he’s already
reached great heights. Over the past five years, he’s raised more than $100,000 for CAF and
the hospital that provides his care. He’s spoken and inspired countless individual through
national media exposure on Inside Edition, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Oprah Whinfrey
Show; and motivates our wounded warriors with visits to the military hospitals as a
spokesperson for CAF.
His smile is infectious. His disposition is always cheerful. And the world is his oyster!
Cody McCasland Inspires War Hero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voj2oaMObB4