Patti Anderson has always been an active person.

The educator has taught for 21 years, six of them at Western Elementary School. Presently she teaches fourth grade at WSE.

Anderson played soccer and volleyball, swam and hiked.

Anderson just did so with one hand. Until now.

Earlier this year Anderson was granted $2,000 to purchase prosthesis equipment and now has a new "hand" to use while bicycling and kayaking.

The teacher lost her right hand as a teen while working in a commercial laundry and did not pursue getting a prosthetic hand in the past.

"The technology wasn't good at the time in terms of prosthetic devices," Anderson said. "Your only choice at that time was to get a hook connected through this big harness that you'd have to wear over your shoulders. I was an 18-year-old girl and those were pretty clunky looking."

Another option was a myoelectric prosthesis. A myoelectric prosthesis uses the wearer's muscles and nerves to control prosthetic hand, wrist or elbow functions and is powered by electricity.

Myoelectrics was in its infancy when Anderson lost her hand and the technology would require further amputation, which Anderson was not willing to carry out. Instead, Anderson learned to do things without any kind of prosthetic device.

"Any kind of sports that required you to use two hands, I just didn't do. I was busy doing my job, raising my kids; I didn't have all that much time to explore all these athletic pursuits. It wasn't until after my kids grew up and I had more free time that I decided that I wanted to pursue additional athletic activities."

Anderson first sought help from her health insurer but was denied numerous times, she said.

In November of 2013 Anderson turned to the Internet, seeking available grants for athletes with disabilities and found the "Challenged Athletes Foundation."

The foundation supports physically challenged athletes by providing sports equipment and grants to qualified individuals.

Located in San Diego, Calif., and started in 1997, the organization so far has raised more than $53 million and funded over 9,500 challenged athletes in all 50 states and in dozens of other countries. Media outlets such as TODAY, Dateline, Nightline, Good Morning America and ESPN Magazine have featured the foundation and those helped by the group.

Shortly after finding CAF, Anderson prepared her paperwork. After filling out the grant application, gathering personal references and enclosing her doctor's evaluation the needed documents were sent.

"I'm really excited. I've been trying to get out on the river (Lehigh Valley) for two years now in a kayak. My intention is to buy a kayak and be out on the river this summer. I've bicycled always and have been very careful. Now I'll be able to bike on different trails and feel more confident about doing it."

So far Anderson has purchased a cuff and two attachments called "terminals." One terminal is for bike riding and snaps on the bicycle handlebars and the other terminal is for kayaking and will allow Anderson to use a handheld paddle. And Anderson won't stop there.

"They also have adapters for musical instruments and I've always wanted to play the fiddle," Anderson said.

An attachment for use with a musical instrument will fall outside of Anderson's current grant which is specific to sports related devices.

Anderson's advice to disabled individuals, with rejected, prosthesis insurance claims is simple.

"Go for a grant," Anderson recommended.

The Challenged Athletes Foundation grant is Anderson's second grant. She previously received a grant for educators to travel to Japan for three weeks.

A tenacious hopeful attitude has served Anderson well.

"Why not? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Yes, you have to put a little effort to fill out the application and there's no guarantee. My advice would be to not give up and assume you have as good a chance as getting it as anybody else."

For more information on the Challenged Athletes Foundation visit www.challengedatheletes.org or call 858-210-3528.