25-year-old Bow, New Hampshire snowboarder aided by California-based High Fives Foundation towards spinal cord injury recovery
Empowerment Grant awarded for vital personal training sessions
(Truckee, California. June 15, 2016) — In December, 2010, 25-year-old LeeAnn Ketcham was snowboarding in Southern New Hampshire with some of her friends when she hit a disguised cliff along side the trail. Upon impact, she immediately discovered that she had lost the motor function in her legs. From there, she was flown to Dartmouth Hitchcock for surgery where she was informed she had suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury at the T11 level.
In the month of May, Lake Tahoe-based non-profit, the High Fives Foundation awarded Ketcham a grant for physical therapy sessions at Project Walk where she can work out on specialized equipment with personalized trainings as she improves her mobility and independence since the injury.
“High fives gives me hope that one day I can reach my goal of walking,” Ketcham said. “I love the Foundation because it’s such a positive movement. It encourages you to get back on the horse, if you will.”
“LeeAnn works very hard, and because of that hard work, LeeAnn is now walking with the assistance of crutches,” said Roy Tuscany, Executive Director of the High Fives Foundation. “I know she plans to shed the crutches, and based on her determination and positivity, she will achieve that.”
In the month of May alone, the High Fives Foundation granted $37,186 to 11 High Fives Athletes.
