In 2016, Alex Parra was a 15-year-old athlete preparing for his junior year of high school when he began experiencing persistent knee pain. After weeks of testing, doctors gave him news that would alter the course of his life: stage 2 osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. 

His prognosis was daunting—just a 40% chance of survival. Chemotherapy began immediately, but after two months it became clear the cancer wasn’t responding. Alex faced a difficult choice: a knee replacement or an above-the-knee amputation. Unsure, he flipped a coin. When it landed on knee replacement, he realized in that instant his gut was pointing him in another direction—he chose amputation. 

In December 2016, Alex’s left leg was amputated. He underwent five more months of chemotherapy and had to learn how to walk again using a prosthetic. By May 2017, treatment ended, and Alex was determined to get back to sport. 

Returning to the Pool 

The pool had always been a place of strength for Alex. Once cleared by his doctors, he immediately returned to swimming. Training again gave him not just exercise but a sense of normalcy and hope for the future. 

That same year, Alex attended the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC) running clinic, where he connected with other athletes with physical disabilities. The experience motivated him to expand his goals beyond swimming—he wanted to run track, pursue triathlon, and one day compete at the Paralympic Trials. 

In 2018, Alex applied for a CAF grant to cover swimming competition expenses, giving him the opportunity to keep chasing those athletic ambitions. CAF’s support provided the foundation for his continued journey in sport. 

Facing Cancer a Second Time 

Just as life seemed to be moving forward, Alex received devastating news. The day after graduating high school, scans revealed stage 4 lung cancer. His prognosis was dire—three months to live and less than a 10% chance of survival. 

Given chemotherapy had failed in his first battle, Alex turned to clinical trials. He opted for surgery to remove the tumor and enrolled in an immunotherapy treatment. For six months, he endured the unknown, not knowing if the new treatment would work. 

On January 11, 2019, doctors declared him cancer-free. Against all odds, Alex had beaten cancer twice. 

Advocacy and Sharing His Story 

Emerging from two life-threatening diagnoses, Alex carried more than medals or race times—he carried perspective. He began sharing his journey online, adopting the handle “Alex1Leg” on social media. His openness gave others living with cancer or amputation someone to relate to, someone who understood the questions, fears, and daily struggles. 

“I’ve always wanted my videos to reach the person I never had when I was going through cancer,” Alex said in an interview. “When I was diagnosed, it felt like no one truly understood what I was going through. After I beat stage 4, I wanted to share my story with hopes that someone could relate to it.” 

For Alex, advocacy is about ensuring that no young person with cancer or a disability feels alone in their experience. 

Sport as a Constant 

Through every diagnosis, surgery, and treatment, sport has been the throughline in Alex’s life. Swimming gave him a place to rebuild his body and confidence. Clinics like SDTC and CAF programs introduced him to running and triathlon, expanding what he thought possible. 

Even as he balances advocacy and health, Alex continues to train and stay active, using sport as both motivation and therapy. Each practice in the pool or track session represents a choice: to keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles. 

Looking Forward 

Today, Alex is more than a survivor. He’s an athlete, advocate, and role model for others navigating cancer and disability. His goals extend beyond competition—he hopes to see continued progress in cancer research, knowing firsthand how critical new treatments like immunotherapy can be. 

“Beating cancer has been the dream ever since I was diagnosed,” Alex explained. “The scans, the anxiety, the doctor visits—it would mean the world to finally be done with cancer.” 

At the same time, he hasn’t let go of his athletic ambitions. Whether through swimming, track, or triathlon, Alex continues to train with Paralympic aspirations in mind. 

Be Part of the Movement 

Alex Parra’s journey shows the role of access, community, and medical innovation in shaping both survival and success. With CAF support, he was able to return to competition and discover new athletic goals. With medical advances, he was able to overcome cancer—twice. 

You can help ensure more athletes like Alex have the chance to keep moving forward—by supporting CAF grants, volunteering at clinics, or amplifying the stories of athletes whose determination redefines what’s possible.