SUPPORTING BRITISH COLUMBIA | SEPT GRANT RECIPIENTS RECEIVE $9,813

Josh Dueck & Landon McGauley received grant funding to help them achieve their winter goals

The High Fives Foundation’s Winter Empowerment program service disburses board-approved grants to disabled athletes participating in winter adaptive sports. In September, the Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved grants for Canadian Winter Empowerment Athletes Josh Dueck of Kimberly, BC and Landon McGauley of Quesnel, BC.

Dueck will receive a grant in the amount of $1,928.58. McGauley will receive a grant in the amount of $7,884.

About Josh Dueck

Dueck’s September 2014 grant for $1,928.58 will be used toward the purchase of new race skis from Rossignol.

Dueck sustained a complete T11 spinal cord injury in a ski accident in 2004. Since his injury he has focused on being best person/athlete/skier he can be. Winning countless medals as a mono skier at the Paralympics, X Games and more, Dueck has taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to him through sports, and has inspired many through his journey.

Dueck
Photo Courtesy | High Fives Foundation

Dueck has waved the High Fives flag with grace the last few seasons, The September grant that he received will allow him to keep competing at a high level with the newest equipment available.

About Landon McGauley

McGauley’s September 2014 grant for $7,884 will be used toward the purchase of a custom mono-ski fairing, a custom mono-ski seat and race skis from Volkl.

On July 4, 2010 McGauley suffered a T4 complete spinal cord injury as the result of a crash while competing in a high-level downhill mountain biking competition.

The High Fives Foundation has been working with McGauley for the last four years and his goal remains the same – to make the Canadian Paralympic Games. McGauley has progressed so much from year to year and truly has a great chance to realize his dream, as he is considered the up and coming young gun of the Canadian Development Team.

Landon
Photo Courtesy | High Fives Foundation

McGauley is a current member of the Canadian Paralympic Development Team, and the September grant will allow him to remained focused on his Paralympic goal.

Since the organization’s January 2009 inception, the Winter Empowerment program service has assisted 65 athletes from 19 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 has set a budget of disbursing $196,000 via board-approved grants through the Winter Empowerment Fund. Thus far in 2014, 26 High Fives Athletes and two organizations have been awarded a sum of 30 board-approved grants for a total of$210,000.

In the month of September the High Fives Foundation distributed funds to ten Winter Empowerment Athletes: Jasmin Bambur of Granby, Colo., John Supon of Denver, Colo., Luke Eckenberg of Temperance, Mich., Ezra McPhail of Duluth, Minn., Landon McGauley of Quesnel, BC, Josh Dueck of Vernon, BC, Danielle Watson of Bend, Ore., Lyndsay Slocumb of Reno, Nev., Marcus Reddish of Stevenville, Mont. and Andrew Kurka of Palmer, Alaska. The Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved a total of $32,881.77 to be used toward the Healing Network, Programs, Travel, Winter Equipment and Adaptive Equipment funding categories.

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