High Fives Athlete and Humanitarian, Keith Gabel to Spend His 30th Birthday Giving Back!
Sunday, July 20th, is Keith Gabel’s 30th birthday. The High Fives Foundation asked Keith what he has planned and got an incredible response. Congratulations on keeping the positivity moving forward Keith and Happy Birthday!
“This birthday is going to be one for the books for me! I decided that the only way I wanted to spend my 30th birthday was by giving back. So this Friday (7/18/2014) I will be leaving for Ohio, where I will be a camp counselor for the Amputee Coalition of America youth camp for the following week. This is something I have wanted to do for a while so I’m super stoked for it. I would definitely like to thank the High Fives foundation for all the help and support they have given me.
I can honestly say without it I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish my dream of medaling at the Paralympics. I would also like to thank my Parents Keith and Theresa for always having my back and supporting me to chase the ultimate dream.” – Keith Gabel
In June of 2005, Keith Gabel was involved in an industrial accident; over 2,000 pounds of hydraulic pressure crushed his left foot. After a series of medical procedures the decision was made to amputate. Keith is an action sports enthusiast with a background in big mountain and freestyle snowboarding. Just three months after his accident, Keith set his sights on making the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Team. In February 2013, Gabel won an International Paralympic Committee World Cup event in Slovenia, and in 2012 he earned an X-Games gold medal. He is currently ranked third in the world in his discipline of Para Snowboard Cross and has been named to the U.S. Paralympic Snowboarding National A-Team. In March 2014, Keith earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia in the first ever Para Snowboard-Cross event.
Learn more about Keith via his Winter Empowerment page.