The High Fives Foundation Helps Three Salt Lake City-Area Athletes in Need
The High Fives Foundation to provide Cody Walker, Ben Hulin and Terry Hopkinson with funds to assist them in their recovery from life-altering injuries
The High Fives Foundation – Winter Empowerment program service disburses board-approved grants to winter action sports athletes who are recovering from a life-altering injury. In July and August, the Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved grants for Winter Empowerment Athletes Cody Walker of Cottonwood Heights, Ben Hulin of Park City and Terry Hopkinson of Provo.
Walker will receive a grant in the amount of $3,439. Hulin will receive a grant in the amount of $3,779. Hopkinson will receive a grant in the amount of $3,601.
About Cody Walker
Cody Walker’s July 2014 grant for $3,439 will be used toward a pool pass, physical therapy and personal training.
Walker was snowboarding with a group of childhood friends in March 2013 on a trip to Northstar Resort in Truckee, Calif. when he took a devastating fall on a jump in the park. After the crash, Walker was airlifted to Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nev. where doctors told him that he had suffered a C5/7 spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the chest down along with breaking his pelvis.
Since Walker’s 2013 injury, he has worked incredibly hard with the goal of being able to keep up with his three young children. The High Fives Foundation previously awarded Walker board-approved grants for $12,000 for continued rehab at the University of Utah, $5,462 for physical therapy at Neuroworx in Salt Lake City and $1,300 for massage therapy in 2013.
About Ben Hulin
Ben Hulin’sgrant for $3,439 will be used toward massage and Acupuncture to ensure that his body is ready for the 2014-2015 ski season.
On September 24, 2006, Hulin was injured in a motorcycle accident that left him with a T5/6 complete Spinal Cord Injury. Following his injury, Hulin spent five weeks in inpatient therapy.
Five months after his injury, Hulin discovered the mountains and honed his ability to ski on an adaptive level and has not looked back. Along with the thrill of competition, skiing has become a family favorite for the Hulin’s. In 2013, the High Fives Foundation awarded Hulin a board-approved grant for $4,499 for program costs and winter equipment so that he could continue to excel as a ski racer.
About Terry Hopkinson
Terry Hopkinson’s July 2014 grant for $3,601 will be used for rehabilitative therapy at the spinal cord injury rehab facility Neuroworx in Salt Lake City, along with massage therapy.
In March 2013, Provo native Hopkinson suffered a spinal cord injury while skiing at a local Utah resort. Hopkinson suffered a very severe injury nearly severing his spinal cord, which would have rendered him completely paralyzed.
In October 2013, Hopkinson received a board-approved grant for $4,562 from the High Fives Foundation to be used toward physical therapy at Neuroworx.
Since the organization’s January 2009 inception, the Winter Empowerment program service has assisted 61 athletes from 18 states in nine respective funding categories which include: living expenses, insurance, travel, health, healing network, adaptive equipment, winter equipment, programs and stoke (positive energy, outlook and attitude). In 2014, the High Fives Foundation has set a budget of disbursing $196,000 via board-approved grants through the Winter Empowerment Fund. Thus far in 2014, 16 High Fives Athletes and two organizations have been awarded a sum of 20 board-approved grants for a total of $168,000.
In the month of July and the High Fives Foundation distributed funds to five Winter Empowerment Athletes: Cody Walker, Ben Hulin and Terry Hopkinson of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nev., Brandon Pitzer of Portland, Ore. and Steven Jacobo of Gandnerville, Nev. The Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved a total of $15,061 to be used toward the Healing Network and Adaptive Equipment funding categories.
