New Q2 High Fives Athletes (East Coast)

Introducing High Fives Quarter 2 2021 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 you know that that goal is possible and find ways to become better with the experience and skill created.

High Fives believes that these 8 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.

Meet the Central US | Grant Recipients HERE

Meet the West Coast | Grant Recipients HERE

Quarter 2 2021 Empowerment Grant Recipients

Benjamin Hickson | SCI T8

Columbia, TN

Ben was road biking like many other days in the past. Unfortunately, on this day, while going down and coming across a bridge, Ben lost control of the bike and flew headfirst into a concrete pillar. This resulted in a T8 spinal cord injury.

Live life to the fullest

Reactive Adaptations Hammerhead Bike – $13,900

Adaptive Equipment

Jason Buindo | SCI T12

Burlington, MA

Jason sustained a T12 spinal cord injury after a rock climbing accident resulted in a 40 ft. fall.

“Things turn out the best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out” – John Wooden

$3,239 – Top End Handcycle

Adaptive Equipment

Joshua Poore | SCI C4

Hendersonville, NC

In 2019 while mountain biking with friends, Josh decided to take an unmarked trail. He landed short on a gap jump which subsequently launched him over his handlebars and directly on his head. He explains, “just one week prior while riding alone I attempted and landed that jump twice. Had I been alone the day of the accident, I wouldn’t have survived.”

“Make your own luck”

$10,000 – Outrider Adaptive Bike

Adaptive Equipment

Patrick Brown | Right BK Amputee

Hermon, ME

Patrick was involved in a skydiving accident in 2009. He was jumping on a day that was a little too windy while using an extremely fast expert-level parachute. This led to his parachute collapsing 75 feet above the pavement.

If you’re not living on the edge you’re taking up too much space.

$8,865 – Dynacces sit-ski and Outriggers

Adaptive Equipment

Ronan Patel | TBI

Atlanta, GA

Ronan was involved in a rock climbing accident in July 2020. He fell 30 feet after his foot slipped and lost his hold and was unconscious on the rope. His friend who was belaying him that afternoon brought him down, called the emergency response and after 3-4 hours he was rescued and airlifted to the nearest trauma hospital. He had an emergency craniotomy to evacuate the bleeding and he suffered many other facial and cervical fractures, brain bleeds, and a carotid artery injury.

“Every Day is a Good Day”

$8,330 – Healing Network

Robert Kokoszyna | SCI L4

Monson, MA

Robert was gliding a light sport airplane when a malfunction occurred. He lost control and was involved in a crash landing. Robert sustained many different injuries including a L4-5 burst fracture.

“The remedy for trauma is athletics”

$2,620 – Macski Surfboard

Adaptive Equipment

Shane Heinle | SCI C7

Cabot, PA

Shane was injured in a mountain biking accident. While approaching a double, he jumped too far, bounced, and landed on the top of his head. This resulted in a C4/5 spinal cord injury.

“We’re not lost, we’re dying in style”

$3,950 – Overhead lift

Adaptive Equipment

Susan Curtin | SCI T12

Boone, NC

Susan explains that ”fatigue and judgement were not my friends when iI was mountain biking that evening in August 2021”. She had been at a bike park racing downhill all day when she came upon a jump with a mandatory gap. She overshot the jump and crashed hard and fast, burst fracturing her T12 vertebrae.