Local Tahoe Athlete Jeff Andrews receives an Empowerment Grant of $21,000 from the High Fives Foundation that includes Nine months of specialized personal training
The High Fives Foundation Empowerment program service disburses board-approved grants to mountain action sports athletes who are recovering from a life-altering injury. In March, the Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved a grant for local Tahoe High Fives Athlete Jeff Andrews of $21,000, providing Jeff 9-months of specialized personal training at the CR Johnson Healing Center in Truckee, Calif.
On March 15, 2014 Jeff experienced a snowboarding accident at Sugar Bowl Resort resulting in a C6 burst fracture with associated spinal cord injury and transverse process fractures at L1, L2, and L3. Jeff suffers quadriplegia at the C5-C7 level. His goal is to become as independent as his condition will permit and return to the most active lifestyle possible.
A previous Empowerment grant allowed Jeff to spend two months at Body Wellness Hawaii training in the Neurokinetic Pilates (NKP) method with Alejandra Monsalve. Throughout his Hawaii trip, Jeff’s friend (and personal trainer) Jack Powell attended every session with Alejandra and has incorporated the NKP method into his training philosophy.
Jeff’s March grant will allow for nine months of training with Jack using the NKP method. Currently, Jeff and Jack are in the CR Johnson Healing Center every single day for roughly 4 hours. This level of dedication to recovery is how Jeff and his trainer Jack are leading by example for other athletes training in the CR Johnson Healing Center.
