High Fives to Sophie Coudurier on Her Board-Approved Grant to Receive Five Weeks of Physical Therapy at Beyond the Chair!
The High Fives Foundation – Winter Empowerment program service disburses board-approved grants to disabled winter action sports athletes participating in winter adaptive sports or athletes recovering from a life-altering injury. In June, the Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved a grant for Winter Empowerment Athlete Sophie Coudurier totaling $14,058.14
The June grant for just over $14,000 awarded to Sophie Coudurier will be used for five-weeks of physical therapy (including travel) at Beyond the Chair in San Antonio, TX, and a standing frame to aid in her ongoing recovery. This will be the third board-approved grant that Sophie has received since becoming a High Fives Athlete in January 2013.
On December 26, 2012, Sophie, an up and coming high school racer for the Falcon Ski Team was taking a few pre-competition warm up runs when she was hit by a skier at the bottom of Mount Rose Ski Resort in Reno, NV. The resulting crash sent Sophie into a pine tree near the edge of the trail causing a burst fracture at the T6 level, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down.
Immediately following her injury Sophie (14 years old at the time) received a January 2013 board-approved grant from the High Fives Foundation to be used toward Acupuncture from Dr. Zhu in San Jose, CA. In a generous act of selflessness, Sophie used the remaining funds from her Acupuncture treatments to start an Adaptive TRX Class at the CR Johnson Healing Center. What has now turned into a weekly Friday class at the Healing Center hosted by Personal Trainer Chris Cloyd, Adaptive TRX helps wheelchair-bound athletes build upper body strength, core strength and balance.
In February 2014, Sophie, heard great things about Beyond the Chair, she received a grant for three weeks (including travel) to San Antonio, TX. During her three weeks at Beyond the Chair Sophie experienced tremendous gains in her recovery, which led to her reapplying in June, and eventually receiving board-approval for five weeks of physical therapy at the Texas facility.
Since the organization’s January 2009 inception, the Winter Empowerment program service has assisted 59 athletes from 18 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 2014 the High Fives Foundation set a budget of disbursing $196,000.00 via board-approved grants through the Winter Empowerment Fund. Thus far in 2014, ten High Fives Athletes and two organizations have been awarded a sum of 14 board-approved grants for a total of $113,246.43.
June Winter Empowerment Grant for Sophie Coudurier: $14,058.14
Learn more about High Fives Athlete, Sophie Coudurier HERE!
