Introducing High Fives Cycle 1 2022 Empowerment Grant recipients
High Fives is very proud to introduce everyone to these new Athletes that we will be supporting through their recovery and onto whatever goals and adventures that they can dream of.
Recovery and progression of one’s mind and body is a never-ending pursuit. These Athletes realize that setting goals and improving themselves is incredibly important. After one goal or adventure is complete they know that that goal is possible and find ways to become better with the experience and skill created.
High Fives believes that these 10 new Athletes embody our values and will represent High Fives in amazing ways, and we cannot wait to see what they are able to accomplish.
Cycle 1 2022 Empowerment Grant Recipients
Tony Kim | SCI T4
Burnaby, BC
Adaptive Equipment-$5,000
Anthony Giancinto | SCI C5
San Jose, CA
On July 3rd of this year, Anthony’s friend planned a fun beach day for a few friends and him to celebrate the holiday weekend. They got together, had lunch, and hung out in the sand for a while, then he and one of his buddies decided it would be nice to go for a short swim in the ocean. They ran down the beach and into the water. He saw a swell approaching and thought it was deep enough to dive in and duck under the crashing wave, but he was wrong. As soon as his head hit the sand, he felt a strange pop in his neck. Most of his body went numb, and he could not move.
Your mindset is everything. Words create worlds
$3,500- Adaptive Equipment
Laura Grabowski | SCI C7
Spring Valley, CA
Laura was a competitive expert mountain biker. She was injured on a small gap jump on a local trial that she rode on a weekly basis; casual ride. Recent rains had changed the width and vegetation growth hid it. She just missed it causing her to crash.
“Luck favours the well prepared”
$3,500-Living Expenses
Dennis Fidel | SCI C5
Santa Maria,CA
While training for a downhill race on his local trails, Dennis over-cooked a jump and could not recover the landing – resulting in him going over the bars onto his head, breaking his neck at C4/5 level.
Peace, Love, and Happiness
$5,000-Adaptive Equipment
Ryan Chen | SCI T7
Marina del Rey ,CA
Ryan was Snowboarding on a 35 foot jump when he over rotated on a flip and shattered his T9 vertebrae.
If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor
$5,000 – Adaptive Equipment
Brenden Doyle | SCI T10
Clovis, CA
Brenden sustained his injury while performing a high-performance landing while skydiving “swooping” he pounded in and completely broke his back severing his spinal cord, breaking his ribs, puncturing his lung, and breaking his ankle and both his feet.
Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure
Funding for a Bowhead mountain bike
Jeffrey Spohr | SCI L1
Kelowna, BC, Canada
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it.
$5,000 – Adaptive Equipment
John Ciszczon | TBI
Reno, NV
John was injured while arresting a felon; as he was applying handcuffs, a third unknown person kicked him in the neck, dissecting his carotid artery.
Never underestimate the power of a High Five!
$3,500 – Adaptive Equipment
These new West Coast Athletes will be welcomed to the High Fives Ohana by previous Athlete and Cycle 1 2022 Grant recipients.
$10,000 – Adaptive Equipment
$3,500 – Healing Network
$3,500 – Healing Networks
Taylor Fiddyment | SCI
Truckee,CA
You never know what tomorrow will bring so live today like it’s your last one.
$7,200 – Adaptive Equipment
Katie Combaluzier | SCI
Toronto,ON,Canada
“IF YOU’RE NOT LIVING LIFE ON THE EDGE, YOU’RE TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE.“
$5,000 – Adaptive Equipment
Patrick Sails | Life Changing
Squamish,BC
Don’t worry about results and the future, just work hard every day and stay focused on the process and good things will happen.
$3,000 – Healing Networks
$1,100 – Adaptive Equipment
$3,500 – Adaptive Equipment
$5,000 – Adaptive Equipment
David Sagal | SCI
Calgary, AB
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
$5,000 – Adaptive Equipment
Mia Gonzalez | SCI
Fresno, CA
While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius because the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
$5,000 – Adaptive Equipment
Dario Minatta | SCI
Sonoma, CA
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. So why not just enjoy the moment.
$5,000 – Living Modifications
Luke Eckenberg | SCI
Truckee, CA
Pluck the day like a ripe fruit and enjoy, for it may be your last.
$3,300 – Healing Networks
Ricci Kilgore | SCI
Truckee, CA
Forget what hurt you in the past. But never forget what it taught you.
$10,000 – Living Expenses
Bond Camp | SCI
Maui, HI
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
$3,100 – Healing Networks
Chris Baker | TBI
Newberg,OR
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention to arrive safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: wow!! What a ride!
Therapies – $$3,000
$3,300 – Adaptive Equipment
2022 Cycle 1 Grant Recipients
