My Nonprofit Reviews

I sustained a T8 spinal cord injury from a head on car collision with a semi-truck during my senior year of high school. I had always been very active competing in varsity sports all through out high school and was lucky enough to get involved with a community group of fellow wheelies early on in my recovery who helped me realize that I could still do the same things I did before, just adapted. However one thing that never quite felt the same was hiking. I was fortunate to grow up near the mountains and loved being outside and going on trails, but the adaptations for doing such just wasn't the same. Either the pathways were too flat and paved or someone had to carry me. It wasn't until I discovered adaptive mountain biking that I realized this was the solution to my longing for the mountains. When looking into how much freedom would cost me it was demoralizing to say the least. As people with disabilities we already have higher expenses than the average person because of health reasons or just daily living modifications that are needed, so to add additional modifications to a bike is not easy to afford. Luckily, someone told me about High Fives Foundation and they gave me a grant to go towards my mountain bike to help offset the large cost. Now because of High Fives I am able to return to the mountains that I once loved and access trails I didn't think I'd ever see again. Not only that but they offered their help with anything that I may be interested in and also introducing me to outdoor sports I didn't even know existed for someone in my position. Because of them I am able to figuratively and literally reach higher mountains. Thank you High Fives!