New England residents receive support from the Tahoe-based High Fives Foundation following life-altering injury
The High Fives Foundation is awarding New England residents Daniel Murray and David Weiner board-approved Empowerment Grants totaling $6,600 to continue therapy at Project Walk in Stratham, N.H.
Upon graduating high school, Daniel Murray moved across the country from Amesbury, Mass. to Bend, Oregon to pursue a career and to snowboard more regularly. His dream was cut short on January 27th, 2016 when he hit a jump and landed on his back, fracturing his T10 vertebrae, causing paralysis from the waist down. Murray also suffered a traumatic brain injury and severe lung contusions in the fall.
In the year following his injury, Murray has made great strides in his recovery and much of that can be attributed to his physical therapy sessions at Project Walk in Stratham, N.H. Project Walk specializes in spinal cord injuries and neurological deficiencies, and the $3,300 Empowerment Grant from the Foundation will be used toward training at the N.H. facility.
Along with having many recovery goals, Murray has goals in the adaptive action sports world as well. When the time is right, High Fives Foundation plans to help him achieve those goals as well.
“I am going to embrace adaptive skiing/snowboarding,” said Murray. “But while my injuries are still new, I want to give it my all to walk again. High Fives is helping me open the door to the active life that I want to live.”
After 50 years of downhill skiing, and 25 years of raising his kids to ski and snowboard, David Weiner of Sandy Hook, Conn. lost control on some black ice at Smuggler’s Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, Vt. When the ice sent Weiner out of control, he hit a tree at full at speed which lead to fractures in his left femur, right tibia/fibula and spine. Following the fall, Weiner was flown to University of Vermont Medical Center where he was told he had suffered a spinal cord injury at T8 and would need to have surgery immediately.
The goal of David’s recovery is to continue to be the best version of himself, and to continue his love of skiing and sports with his family. The Empowerment Grant that Weiner received for $3,300 will be used toward physical therapy at Project Walk to help him get stronger and work toward those goals.
“Being outside and skiing with the family means the world to me,” said Weiner. “The strength and motor skills that I have regained at Project Walk are sure to have me frequenting the slopes soon. I can’t thank High Fives enough!”
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 146 athletes from 27 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 January 2017 the High Fives Foundation disbursed $35,003.50 in board-approved grants to 10 athletes in 5 states.
10 #HIGHFIVESATHLETES RECEIVED EMPOWERMENT GRANT FUNDING IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2017!
HIGH FIVES ATHLETES RECEIVE EMPOWERMENT GRANTS | COLORADO RESIDENTS
HIGH FIVES ATHLETES RECEIVE EMPOWERMENT GRANTS | NEW ENGLAND
HIGH FIVES ATHLETES RECEIVE EMPOWERMENT GRANTS | TAHOE AREA
HIGH FIVES ATHLETE RECEIVES EMPOWERMENT GRANT | KEENAN WEISCHEDEL
HIGH FIVES ATHLETE RECEIVES EMPOWERMENT GRANT | KEVIN CHEUNG
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 146 athletes to date since its inception in 2009. For more information visit www.highfivesfoundation.org
