October 21, 2025 • Gansevoort Rooftop
On a crisp fall evening overlooking Manhattan’s skyline, the High Fives Ohana gathered once again in New York City, celebrating possibility, progress, and the powerful support system behind every adaptive athlete.
Hosted at the Gansevoort Rooftop, our Community & Conversation event brought together friends old and new for an evening of stories, connection, and purpose. Athletes shared firsthand how adaptive sports have transformed their lives, while supporters stood shoulder-to-shoulder in helping fuel those journeys forward. It was a night filled with energy, emotion, and the unmistakable strength of this community.
10 Sit Skis. $100,000 Raised. Lives Changed.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our NYC supporters, we reached our ambitious goal, $100,000 raised to fully fund 10 sit-skis for adaptive athletes across North America.
As our longtime friend Craig Abruzzo put it best:
“Let’s beat Rhode Island.”
Mission accomplished. 💥
A single sit-ski costs roughly $10,000, and now 10 athletes have the independence, confidence, and access they deserve — carving their own paths back to adventure.
Meet the Athletes You Powered Forward
Every donation has a name, a story, a future behind it. We’re honored to introduce the 10 recipients of NYC’s Sit Ski Challenge:
- Bassem Mansour (20) – El Dorado Hills, CA
Moving from surviving to thriving — ready for black diamonds again. - Daniel Flores (39) – Scarborough, ME
Double amputee and PSIA-certified instructor sharing freedom on snow. - Daniel Mila (37) – Waterford, CA
A lifelong rider returning to the mountains after a T9 SCI. - Jimi Brenner (35) – Newcastle, CA
Progressing fast — steezy sit-ski dreams included. - Nicolette Olson (29) – Ravensdale, WA
Skier, amputee, Paralympic hopeful — independence in motion. - RJ Roggeveen (26) – Halifax, NS
Medical student balancing pursuit of winter with a stronger setup. - Travis Purser (46) – Ogden, UT
Staying active and connected 25 years post-injury. - Hunter Jaynes (25) – Robinson, TX
Proof you don’t need two arms or two legs — just heart. - Chad Winthrop (50) – Denver, CO
New equipment means longer days on snow with less strain. - Kamil Nowak (20) – Rockaway, NJ
Carving toward full independence and confidence.
This is why we do what we do.
A Night of Unity + Ohana
From heartfelt remarks by athletes like Trevor Kennison to inspiring conversations across the room, the evening reminded us that we are all athletes, each working toward our own version of freedom and joy.
Together, we:
✅ Amplified voices
✅ Built deeper community connections
✅ Celebrated resilience and possibility
Most importantly, every attendee played a real role in the journey ahead for these 10 athletes.
Keep the Momentum Going
Support from events like this makes a direct and lasting impact on adaptive athletes and we’re just getting started. Every gift fuels moments of independence, progression, and pure joy.
📍 Donate Today
Your continued generosity keeps our athletes on the slopes and thriving in their communities.
➡️ NYC Donation Link
📸 Relive the Night
➡️ View Photos HERE
🎥 See the Story
➡️ NYC C&C Video HERE
Thank you, New York.
You showed up and changed what’s possible.
