BARCLAY TALBOT | #HIGHFIVESATHLETE TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING

Cazenovia native Barclay Talbot receives $11,650 Empowerment Grant from California-based High Fives Foundation towards recovery from life-altering injury

Empowerment Grant will provide Talbot with a wheel chair power lift at his home and therapeutic sessions of acupuncture and massage

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The High Fives Foundation is awarding 22-year-old Barclay Talbot an Empowerment Grant to help aid in his recovery from a life-altering injury he sustained while skiing at Cazenovia Ski Club in February this year. The injury happened when Talbot built a jump and over shot the landing, breaking his neck and back in the impact. He was diagnosed with a T-8 spinal cord injury and is currently undergoing intensive rehab at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo.
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Talbot’s family reached out to the Lake Tahoe California-based High Fives Foundation. The organization provides resources and inspiration in the from of Board-approved grants to fund mountain action sports athletes who have sustained life-altering injuries. In April, Talbot received a grant that will provide a power lift to help transport Talbot and his wheelchair between the basement and first floor of his family’s home in Cazenovia. The grant also provided Talbot with 10 sessions of acupuncture and 12 sessions of massage to provide therapeutic stimulation and blood flow to areas affected by his injury.

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Talbot’s recovery goals include getting back to skiing, camping, hunting and fishing. According to the High Fives Foundation, “Barclay is an incredibly hard worker with a great support system and positive attitude.”

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Since the High Fives Foundation’s January 2009 inception, the Empowerment program service has assisted 79 athletes from 20 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 2015, the High Fives Foundation set a budget of disbursing $266,000 via board-approved grants through the Empowerment Fund. Since January 2015, 18 High Fives Athletes and two organizations have been awarded 22 board-approved grants totaling  $146,793.

In the month of April the High Fives Foundation disbursed $58,361 in board-approved grants — the most in grant funding in a single month in it’s history.

April Empowerment Athletes:
Jim Harris from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Barclay Talbot from Cazenovia, NY.
Jason Abraham from Tahoe City, Calif.
Lindsay Runkel from Westport, Conn.
Bill Winchester from Reno, Nev.
Megan Wemmer from Boulder, Colo.

1 thought on “BARCLAY TALBOT | #HIGHFIVESATHLETE TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING”

  1. Congratulations, Barc! What progress you have made since I met you just after your arrival to Craig Hospital in Denver! This is an amazing place but athletes don’t reach their full potential unless they have that inner motivation that you show. Thanks to High Fives Foundation for recognizing your spirit and choosing to help you continue on your road to recovery!

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