Meet our Canadian #HighFivesAthletes who received grant funding in January 2019
Kasey Aiello from Calgary, Canada, Athlete # 229 & Josh Harder from Alberta, Canada, Athlete #199
This grant will allow me to have freedom and independence on the beach and at the ski hill while in my wheelchair with my familySaid High Fives Athlete Kasey Aiello
Kasey Aiello | Calgary, Canada | Athlete # 229
Kasey has an incomplete C6-7 SCI from a snowboarding accident in 1999. She had surgery to repair her vertebrae through the front and back of her neck after wearing a halo for a few days. Initially she was completely paralyzed from my neck down, but some things came back slowly.
Kasey applied for and received a High Fives financial grant for $6,700 to be used toward a track chair attachment. She looks forward to spending time and exercising outdoors rather than just spending time in the gym working on her recovery.
Josh Harder | Alberta, Canada | Athlete #199
Josh Harder suffered an L1 burst fracture while competing in mountain bike event. He overshot a jump and landed on his butt from over 30 feet. He instantly knew that he was paralyzed from the waist down.
Josh has made incredible progress following his 2007 injury, and is back to participating in sports that he loves. High Fives Foundation provided a June grant to cover 3 months of personal training and massage therapy so that Josh can stay strong and focus on getting back to his passions.
The High Fives Foundation looks forward to assisting Josh with achieving his adaptive sports goals in the future.
the main gains I've experienced is in my overall quality of life. Training adds structure to my week, but has also added much needed cardio and muscle conditioning. I'm more confident on my feet than ever and I feel like I am well on my way to my lofty goals in adaptive action sports!Josh was proud to report
Meet the 20 Empowerment Grant, JANUARY 2019 #HighFivesAthletes
CANADIAN EMPOWERMENT GRANTS FUNDED
EAST COAST EMPOWERMENT GRANTS FUNDED
WEST COAST EMPOWERMENT GRANTS FUNDED
CENTRAL EMPOWERMENT GRANTS FUNDED
The High Fives Foundation supports injured outdoor action sports Athletes through grant funding to be used towards reaching their recovery goals. Since the Foundation’s January 2009 inception, the Empowerment Program Service has assisted 235 Athletes from 32 states in nine respective funding categories: Living expenses, insurance, travel, health, healing network, adaptive equipment, winter equipment, programs and “stoke” (positive energy, outlook and attitude).
MISSION
High Fives focuses on preventing life-changing injuries and provides resources and hope if they happen.
VISION
The leader of education and recovery of life-changing injuries in outdoor sports.
TAG LINE
The safety net of the outdoor community.
