Fires impact San Diego fundraisers

The 14th annual San Diego Triathlon Challenge, which was scheduled for yesterday, was canceled because of the wild fires.

The event is the primary fundraiser for the local Challenged Athletes Foundation, which provides wheelchairs, prosthetics, coaching and travel expenses to the physically challenged. The half-Ironman distance relay raised nearly $12 million the first 13 years, including more than $1 million last year.

Another major CAF fundraiser, the Qualcomm Million Dollar Challenge bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego, was cut short last Tuesday near Santa Barbara as the cyclists entered fire-ravaged Southern California.