The Legacy Grant honors the late Dave DeSantis, a true XTERRA Warrior and inspiration to all. In 2013, he was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma and was given a year to live. He fought it with everything he had and continued to race XTERRA through his treatment. DeSantis lost his long and valiant battle on June 5, 2017.

In his memory, XTERRA renamed the recurring XTERRA Warrior Award the Dave DeSantis XTERRA Warrior award and to perpetuate his legacy further, his wife Kathy Doyle established the Dave DeSantis XTERRA Legacy Grant, affording others the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.