High Fives Foundation to provide Glenwood Springs, Colo. skier Tim Burr with Empowerment Grant following life-altering injury

Empowerment Grant to fund ski outings and adaptive equipment

The High Fives Foundation is awarding Tim Burr a board-approved Empowerment Grant of $11,600 to help aid in his road to recovery and afford him the chance to purchase an adaptive hand cycle.

Burr sustained a spinal cord injury at the C5 level while skiing the Crested Butte backcountry with a friend. There was a small drop that Burr attempted, he landed forward and crashed. Once he arrived at the hospital, Tim received the news that he was paralyzed from the shoulders down.

Burr plans to recover to the point where he can walk, ski, bike, dirt bike and SUP at the same level he did prior to his injury. “I will recover enough to walk and more, in the meantime, I plan to enjoy those things the best I can,” states Burr.  For now, he wants to learn to ski in an adaptive fashion and enjoy the mountains with friends again.

“It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with Tim,” said Roy Tuscany, High Fives Foundation Executive Director. “Tim and other High Five Athletes have proven to themselves that the time and effort put in pays off in their road to recovery.”

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