Empowerment Grant from High Fives Foundation helps Josh Dueck towards recovery goals
Dueck, a world-class monoskier and adaptive athlete, will receive sessions of Neuro Kinetic Pilates at the CR Johnson Healing Center in Truckee, Calif.
The High Fives Foundation is awarding 32-year-old Josh Dueck from Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, an Empowerment Grant for sessions of Neuro Kinetic Pilates at the CR Johnson Healing Center in Truckee, Calif.
Dueck is an existing High Fives Athlete who sustained a spinal cord injury in 2004 in a ski accident that left him completely paralyzed from the waist down. In his recovery, he quickly accepted the fact that life was going to be different, and he did his best to enjoy the process of adjusting. He has since returned to the places he loves (the mountains and the ocean) and he is moving forward with living out his dreams with his wife Lacey and their daughter Nova. Dueck is currently traveling around North America in an Airstream with his family bringing positivity and adventure with them wherever they go.
Dueck chose to visit the CR Johnson Healing Center to undergo Neuro Kinetic Pilatesbecause it is is not offered anywhere else in the region. Neuro Kinetic Pilates is a physiological combination of kinesiology, Pilates, neuro-techniques, breath control and neuroplasticity (which is the revolutionary discovery that the brain can change itself and the neural pathways and synapses due to changes in behavior, environment and neural processes).
According to Dueck, his recovery goal is, “to celebrate community and inspire hope through my life and actions, while having as much fun as possible.”
“Josh is an incredible human capable of inspiring athletes at any ability level,” said Roy Tuscany, High Fives Foundation Executive Director.
Since the High Fives Foundation’s January 2009 inception, the Empowerment program service has assisted 85 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 2015, 26 High Fives Athletes and two organizations have been awarded 40 board-approved grants totaling $211,393.
In the month of June the High Fives Foundation disbursed $30,194 in board-approved grants to nine athletes
June Empowerment Athletes:
Jamie Crane-Mauzy from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Bond Camp from Breckenridge, Colo.
Megan Wemmer from Boulder, Colo.
Nick Fairall from Andover, N.H.
Kevin Cheung from San Francisco, Calif.
Mike Schwarz from Chester, VT.
Jim Harris from Salt Lake City, Utah
Aaron Baker from Northridge, Calif.
Josh Dueck from Vernon, British Columbia.
