24-year-old San Bruno, Calif. injured skier receives grant funding from Tahoe-based High Fives Foundation   

Kevin Cheung receives an Empowerment Grant of $6,801 to aid in road to recovery from life-altering injury

The High Fives Foundation is awarding Kevin Cheung a board-approved Empowerment Grant to help aid in his recovery from a traumatic ski injury. Funding will go towards helping with unpaid medical bills, 6-month gym membership, and Bioness L-300 E-Stim unit.

In March 2015, Kevin was skiing at Squaw Valley and over-rotated a backflip, while overshooting a jump at Gold Coast Terrain Park. Kevin landed face first on the flats and sustained burst fractures at C1, C5, T4/5/6 and tore his transverse ligament next to C1. Kevin recently left Craig Hospital in Denver, Colo., and is back in the Bay Area where he grew up. “It has been a pleasure to work with Kevin,” said Roy Tuscany, High Fives Foundation Executive Director. “Kevin has proven that through time and effort he puts in pays off in his road to recovery.”

Kevin is making a great recovery, and it is largely due in part to his tremendous work ethic and the amazing team at Craig. “High Fives has provided me with support and encouragement in addition to grant funding,” said Cheung. “This additional physical therapy training has helped speed up my recovery timeline.”

The High Fives Foundation supports injured mountain sports athletes through grant funding to be used towards reaching their recovery goals. Since the High Fives Foundation’s January 2009 inception, the Empowerment program service has assisted 104 athletes from 22 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 Quarter 1 of 2016 the High Fives Foundation disbursed $91,509 in board-approved grants to 19 athletes in 9 states.

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About the High Fives Foundation: The High Fives Foundation is a Tahoe-based, national 501.c.3 non-profit organization. The High Fives Foundation supports the dreams of mountain action sports athletes by raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life-altering injuries. Formed as a way to “pay-it-forward” by the founder from his own recovery to help injured athletes, the Foundation has helped 104 athletes to date since its inception in 2009. For more information visit www.highfivesfoundation.org