Alfredo “Freddie” De los Santos – Handcycling

Alfredo “Freddie” De los Santos is a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He arrived to the United States in 1986, attended Park West high school in NYC, and subsequently graduated from City College of New York with a Bachelors degree in Graphic Design. Upon graduation, Freddie worked at NYU as a graphic designer. After the 9/11 attack, Freddie joined the Army.

On October 20, 2009 while serving in Helmand Providence in Afghanistan, Freddie was wounded in action when the vehicle in which he was riding in was hit by rocket fire. As a consequence of the injury, Freddie lost his right leg above the knee. After losing his leg, Freddie took up handcycling as part of his rehabilitation.

Shifting Gears United is proud to include Freddie in our Elite Athlete Sponsorship Program. Recently, he was named on Team USA and will be competing in the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics.

Candice “Kandi” Caesar – Archery

In 1999, Candace “Kandi Kane” Caesar sustained a traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage in an accident. Doctors told her that she would never walk again.

She faced depression during her recovery. But, things changed when Kandi began running.

When Kandi was first injured, she used a wheelchair but then worked her way to a cane. When she began running, she decided she needed a memorable nickname. She decided on Kandi Kane. “I became Kandi Kane because my mother named me Kandi, and I thought I was pretty sweet and I previously walked with a cane,” she said.

Since she started running, Kandi has completed multiple half marathons, marathons, and triathlons. She has completed the Boston Marathon four times. Kandi even came in 1st place at the Leon’s Triathalon for the impaired ambulatory division.

Her most recent achievement is that she won a place on Team USA in archery. Shifting Gears United is proud to be helping support Kandi Kane as she readies for the Paralympics in Tokyo later this year.