High Fives Athlete #283, Alex Uppenkamp, has turned a life-changing injury into a journey of resilience and rediscovery.
Just before leaving for college at Humboldt State University, Alex attempted a 30-foot step-up jump on his mountain bike in San Diego. He overshot, went over the handlebars, and sustained a C3 complete spinal cord injury.
With the help of multiple High Fives Empowerment Grants, Alex has found his way back to the activities that bring him joy. Most recently, he hit the trails on his adaptive mountain bike and caught waves through High Fives surf programming…all in the same week.
“From mountain biking to surfing, High Fives has supported all my ambitions with getting back to the sports I loved before my injury,” Alex says. “Being able to meet the crew and see the smiles they put on people’s faces like mine is priceless.”
High Fives Athlete #283, Alex Uppenkamp
