Adaptive Advancement: Nearly $10,000 Awarded to Three Injured Athletes through High Fives Foundation Winter Empowerment Fund
Athletes Awarded Disbursements for Recovery from Life Altering Injury
The High Fives Foundation – Winter Empowerment Program Service disburses board approved grants to disabled winter action sports athletes participating in winter adaptive sports or recovering from a life altering injury. In January 2013 the Board of Directors approved the following grants for three athletes totaling $9,700.
To date, the Winter Empowerment Fund has assisted 37 athletes in eight respective funding categories which include: living expenses, insurance, travel, health, healing network, adaptive equipment, winter equipment, programs and stoke (positive energy, outlook and attitude).
January grant recipients include:
MARK FLOUNLACKER | OCEAN CITY, MD
In December 2011, Mark fell while climbing down from his deer stand and suffered a fracture dislocation of his T12 vertebra. His initialprognosis was that he would likely never walk again. Mark is blessed with a devoted wife and an extraordinary support network of family and friends to help him. He enrolled in and finished his final semester at Salisbury University and walked the stage at graduation in Mayusinga walker. He plans to utilize the Winter Empowerment Fund to further his rehab and hopes to promote the benefits of sports and outdoor recreation for the disabled.
Grant Details: Programs $300:Vermont Adaptive Lessons, three days includes ticket, equipment, and instruction;Winter Equipment $700:Sorel Boots, Smith Optics Helmet and goggles, jacket, pants, gloves; Travel $200: travel card (fuel and food only); Stoke $300Video edit
Total $1,500.00
SOPHIE COURDURIER | RENO, NV
Sophie is an active athlete who loves skiing, rock climbing, judo and hiking. While training with Team Falcons at Mt. Rose, she got hit by a skier the day after Christmas 2012. She sustained a spinal cord injury to her T6-T7 vertebra. Sophie’s goal for recovery is to be able to work again and to return to skiing, judo, rock climbing and mountain climbing (the sport activities she loves doing while growing up in the Sierra Nevada).
Grant Details: Healing Network $7,000: Acupuncture with Dr. Zhu Return to Walk Program
Total $7,000.00
TIMOTHY BROWN | MANCHESTER, MA
A ski patroller at Aspen Snowmass (CO), Tim suffered a fractured C4/C5 vertebra coupled with a contusion of the same area. After finding out about High Fives Foundation from Powder Magazine, Tim got in touch with the Foundation about returning to skiing on the East Coast. With his SCI (spinal cord injury) happening in the winter sports and his desire to make it back to the hill, Tims goal of returning to the mountains with his friends and family fits the mission of the Winter Empowerment Fund.
Grant Details:Programs $300:Vermont Adaptive Lessons, three days includes ticket, equipment, and instruction;Winter Equipment $700:Sorel Boots, Smith Optics Helmet and goggles, jacket, pants, gloves; Travel $200: travel card (fuel and food only)
Total $1,200.00
The High Fives Foundation procures funding for such disbursements through laidback and fun fundraising events. The next marquee High Fives Foundation fundraising event will be the Squaw Valley Prom. It is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 8 p.m. at Squaw Valley. Details can be found at www.highfivesfoundation.org.
