Anaheim resident Frank Lin to receive $3,300 Empowerment Grant to help towards recovery from a life-altering injury. High Fives Foundation to provide Lin with Locomotor Training and personal exercise training.
The High Fives Foundation Empowerment Program service disburses board-approved grants to mountain action sports athletes who are recovering from a life-altering injury. In July, the Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved a grant for Anaheim-based Empowerment Athlete Frank Lin totaling $3,300.
In December of 2014, Lin went over the handlebars of his mountain bike, fracturing his T5/6 vertebrae. Following surgery and acute rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo., Lin was initially diagnosed as a complete spinal cord injury with loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. Through hard work and tireless efforts, Lin has since progressed to regain some sensory and motor function.
Lin witnessed the recoveries of two other High Fives Athletes at Craig Hospital, Bond Camp and Jim Harris. Their work inspired Lin to reach out to the High Fives Foundation. He has seen remarkable gains using locomotor training, and this July 2015 Empowerment Grant will provide support to continue training in his home town of Anaheim.
Locomotor training re-teaches walking to people with life-altering injuries by varying body weight support and a treadmill system in combination with manual assistance by specially-trained physical therapists and other members of the locomotor team.
Since the organization’s January 2009 inception, the Empowerment program service has assisted 89 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, the Foundation has disbursed $203,626 to 29 athletes and two organizations.
In the month of July, the High Fives Foundation disbursed $17,509 in Empowerment Grants to the following High Fives Athletes:
David Hewel from Reno, NV.
Tim Burr from Glenwood Springs, Colo.
Michele Edwards from Roseville, Calif.
Jordan Griffin from Lakewood, WA.
Matt Leonard from San Francisco, Calif.
Frank Lin from Anaheim, Calif.
Shawn Maloney from Oakland, Calif.
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About the High Fives Non-Profit Foundation: High Fives Foundation is a Tahoe-based, national 501.c.3 non-profit organization The High Fives Foundation supports the dreams of mountain action sports athletes by raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life-altering injuries. Formed as a way to “pay-it-forward” by the founder from his own recovery to help injured athletes, the Foundation has helped 89 athletes to date since its inception in 2009, more information visit www.highfivesfoundation.org.
