Introducing High Fives Cycle 1 2022 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 off.
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 10 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.
Cycle 1 2022 Empowerment Grant Recipients
Mason Branstrator | SCI T12
Duluth, MN
Never never never give up
$2,900 – Healing Networks
Tobias Richon | Life Changing
Gloucester, MA
On November 6, 2020, Tobias was riding his mountain bike on a loose, gravelly fire road section on his local trails. He went into a turn too quickly and lost control of the bike, washing out and sending him careening into a tree. After the crash, he was airlifted to Boston Medical Center. The impact results were a left clavicle fracture, a left scapula fracture, a C4-C7 TP fracture, and ribs 2-10 fractured. He also had root avulsions (left side) at C5, C6, C7, and C8, resulting in brachial plexus injury and paralysis of his left arm and hand.
Here we go!
$5,000- Adaptive Equipment
Jim Harvey | SCI C7
Windham, NH
On July 27, 2021, Jim had a serious mountain biking accident while riding on a trail in his hometown of Windham, NH. His bike stopped abruptly, and he flew over the handlebars. Jim was wearing a helmet, but he, unfortunately, sustained a severe spinal cord injury. His spine was severed, causing damage to the c6/c7 cervical vertebrae, resulting in complete paralysis from his chest down. Jim’s injury is graded ASIA A complete. As a person with quadriplegia, he does not have any sensory or movement in his hands, fingers, core, legs, and feet.
Work hard and have fun!
$3,500-Healing Networks
Brandon Dudley | SCI T3
Waterville,MN
Brandon was injured practicing on his motocross bike. While taking off a jump he was strangely catapulted and went over the handlebars sending him into the ground with the bike crashing down on top of him.
Funding for a Dynaccess sit-ski
Willard Osburn | SCI T7
Cornelius, NC
Willard was fortunate to be blessed with good health his whole life and enjoyed outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking, kayaking, scuba diving and snow skiing. He retired at 62 and had big plans for continuing these for many years to come. Six months later he was doing a tune-up snow skiing run by myself at Sugar Mountain NC and had an unspectacular fall and broke the first bone of my life. It was an incomplete C4 fracture that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He was transported by helicopter to Atrium Trauma Center in Charlotte, NC where he underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his spinal cord and install two rods to stabilize his spinal cord. He made very good progress for the first 6 months of rehab until his recovery of function plateaued. He has good mobility in his right arm/leg, impaired function in his left leg and very limited function in his left arm/hand. I
When life looks like easy street there is danger at your door!
$2,500 – Adaptive Equipment
Benjamin Backes | SCI T4
Waterville, ME
In April 2011, Benjamin was hiking with a group of friends in Branford, Connecticut. After some time, they reached a beautiful location; a cliff overlooking the Thimble Islands and Long Island Sound. As they were getting ready to hike back, he walked towards the cliff’s edge to take in the fantastic view one more time. After a few steps, his right knee buckled, and he fell to the ground. His momentum propelled him towards the edge of the cliff. He wildly flung his arms, trying to grab hold of anything I could. Unfortunately, there was nothing to grasp. I then fell forty feet until the cold spring ground broke his fall.
The future is no place to place your better days
$5,000– Adaptive Equipment
Brock Peterson | SCI C5
Virginia Beach, VA
Brock was injured during a boating day with friends on July 3rd, 2021. He swam to the shore to visit his friend/manager from work. They were standing on a floating DJ platform. I dove off the dock and started to swim back to the boat. There was only one problem. I was not moving. He opened his eyes and instantly knew he had broken his neck when he saw his arms dangling in front of his face down in the water.
Get better every single day
$3,500 – Adaptive Equipment
Brittney Aston | Life Changing
Chicago, IL
Leadership is not a rank or a position, it is a choice – a choice to look after the person to the left of us & the person to the right of us
$3,600 – Adaptive Equipment
William Bloodsworth| SCI
Hollywood, SC
William Bloodsworth is a 61 year old veteran with C3 myelopathy ASIA A secondary from a motor vehicle accident on 12/1/2019; sustained 3-column fracture at C3-4 withvsevere stenosis adjacent to his prior C4-6 spinal fusion; s/p C2-5 decompressionvand posterior fusion
Who dares, wins. Who sweats, wins. Who plans, wins.
$3,500 – Adaptive Equipment
These new East Coast Athletes will be welcomed to the High Fives Ohana by previous Athlete and Cycle 1 2022 Grant recipients.
$3,500 – Healing Networks
$3,400 – Adaptive Equipment
2022 Cycle 1 Grant Recipients
