FALLBROOK – Local resident Adria Di Maria recently received a grant from the Challenged Athlete Foundation. Di Maria embraces her dream to shine in the world of equestrian dressage despite her life long battle with polio and its unfortunate effects. Her dream is to become a successful equestrian paralympian and to ultimately represent the United States internationally.

Di Maria’s philosophy is "it is the ability that counts...not the disability." She is passionate about this journey and will do everything possible to reach her goal. Her greatest challenge is not her disability, although it is very real, but finding the funds to make becoming a paralympic equestrian happen.

It is the mission of the Challenged Athlete Foundation to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue an active lifestyle through competitive athletics. It is CAF’s vision to be recognized as a leader in the movement through which physically challenged athletes are accepted and respected at the same level as able body athletes.

If anyone would like to support this special woman in her quest to represent the United States at the state, national and international dressage competitions for people with disabilities, they can join with the Challenged Athletes Foundation and send a tax deductible donation to: Scholarship Fund for Adria Di Maria, REINS P.O. Box 1283 Bonsall, CA 92003.