#HIGHFIVESATHLETE | CODY WALKER

Cottonwood Heights resident Cody Walker received an Empowerment Grant to help with his recovery from a life-altering injury that occurred snowboarding

#HighFivesAthlete Cody Walker
#HighFivesAthlete Cody Walker

The High Fives Foundation Empowerment Program service disburses board-approved grants to mountain action sports athletes who are recovering from life-altering injuries. In August, the High Fives approved a grant for Cottonwood Heights-based Empowerment Athlete Cody Walker totaling $1,025 for a membership at EXCEL Fitness in Salt Lake City and a family membership at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center for use of the pool and the facilities.

In March 2013, while on a snowboarding trip in Lake Tahoe with his best friends, 37-year-old Walker had a snowboarding accident that left him with fractures in his neck, both hips and the inability to move his body on his own. Several weeks after the accident, Walker regained arm and leg movement. For the past two years, he has been rehabilitating rigorously, utilizing the resources in the Salt Lake City area where he lives. He has worked at facilities including the University of Utah Rehabilitation Center and Neuroworx. His dedicated effort is paying off. He walks, works, and enjoys his time with his family.

All of his recovery goals since his injury have been motivated by his loving wife, his three adorable kids, including his most recent recovery goal to progress to running as a form of fitness.

“My goal is continued rehabilitation through any means I can manage,” Walker told the High Fives Foundation. “I’ve been swimming and biking to regain lower body strength and core strength as much as I can. This is possible through the memberships I have at local gyms.”

Cody Walker and other High Fives Athletes in the state of Utah have special funding from a collaborative project between Salt Lake City-based non-profit Sorenson Legacy Foundation and the High Fives Foundation. This project earmarks funding specifically for Utah-based athletes recovering from life-altering injuries.

“Cody is a great example of a highly inspirational success story,” said Roy Tuscany,Executive Director of the High Fives Foundation. “He suffered a devastating spinal cord injury, and has never let that stand in the way of his priority to be the amazing father and husband that he is.”

Watch The Cody Walker Story produced by the High Fives Foundation and Conor Toumarkine to learn more about Cody Walkers injury and inspiring recovery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgxj2UCd5Rg


Since the High Fives Foundation’s January 2009 inception, the Empowerment Program Service has assisted 89 athletes from 20 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 2015, the High Fives Foundation set a budget of disbursing $266,000 via board-approved grants through the Empowerment Fund. Since January, the Foundation has disbursed $210,620 to 30 athletes and three organizations.
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About the High Fives Non-Profit Foundation: 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 89 athletes to date since its inception in 2009, more information visit www.highfivesfoundation.org.

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