Inspirational Athlete: Brennan Dekeersgieter (1986-2013)
It is with the utmost love and respect that we say goodbye to a dear friend and member of the High Fives Foundation family. Winter Empowerment Athlete – Brennan Dekeersgeiter passed away on March 2, 2013.
The first recipient of the CR Johnson Memorial Fund, Brennan suffered a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) while riding at Alpine Meadows, CA in 2010. The Winter Empowerment Fund has financially supported all healing therapies for Brennan to return to riding Powder.
In remembrance of Brenna, please check out this video.
The Burlington Free Press posted a great reflection on our young friend:
“Brennan was a man of extremes who thrived most on the summit of a mountain or in the sea. He slept under the biggest skies, swam in the bluest oceans, and poached the perfect “pow-pow.” Brennan let nothing stop him from doing what he loved. In his continual search for thrills, he led a complete and fulfilling life, leaving behind a farreaching and indelible love. He traveled through South America and Europe. In 2006, Brennan left Vermont to attend college in Lake Tahoe, Nev., tapping into an enduring entrepreneurial spirit. As a team manager at Tahoe Free Ride Company he touched the lives of his youth snowboard team, building in them not only the skill and strength they needed to perform, but an enthusiastic adoration for snowboarding that only he could convey. Friends and family meant everything to Brennan; he always bragged about his friends and family instead of bragging about his many adventures and tasks conquered. He was a warrior and a known miracle to his community in the east and the west.”