Quality of Life Spotlight: High Fives Non-Profit Foundation

Even after a 2006 skiing accident left Roy Tuscany with a burst fracture of his T12 vertebrae, he never wavered from the sport he loves. He worked hard to remain positive during his rehabilitation and found joy in connecting with others through the simple act of giving a high five. Touched by the support he received, he wanted to pay it forward to others.

Three years after his spinal cord injury, Tuscany founded the High Fives Foundation, a nonprofit based in Truckee, California, dedicated to raising funds and awareness for athletes who have experienced a life-altering injury while pursuing their dream in outdoor action sports. High Fives focuses on providing grants and access to participate in sports such as surfing, skiing/snowboarding, motorsports, fishing and mountain biking.

“[Roy] wanted to educate others on mountain safety and awareness and help those who are facing similar life challenges by offering financial, physical and mental/emotional support, and encourage these individuals to get back out there and live life to the fullest,” says Ally Karacozoff, High Fives’ grants coordinator.

In 2020, High Fives received a $25,000 Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grant to purchase a Bowhead Reach, a top-of-the-line adaptive electric mountain bike and develop a pilot study for an athlete tracking initiative. The grant impacts the more than 490 High Five athletes, three-quarters of whom live with a spinal cord injury, and over 870 family members and caregivers.

“High Fives’ overall goal with this grant funding was to improve the quality of life of our athletes living with spinal cord injuries by providing free and innovative exercise opportunities, verifying the efficacy of our program services through evidence-based and data-driven methods and fostering a supportive, close-knit community for individuals with spinal cord injuries,” says Karacozoff.

The bike is stored at the C.R. Johnson (CRJ) Healing Center in Truckee, a 6,000-square-foot wellness facility next to High Fives’ headquarters, where injured individuals can receive alternative recovery and rehabilitation therapies. The center averages 400 visits per month and nearly 500 personal training sessions since the start of this year. Over 50 athletes experienced the innovative technology of the Bowhead bike on local trails in 2021.

“All [High Fives] athletes who are either in the area or can travel to the CRJ Healing Center have free use of the Bowhead bike, facilitated by our certified personal trainer and High Fives peer mentors,” says Karacozoff. “High Fives athletes with spinal cord injuries have traveled from all over the country to visit the CRJ Healing Center, and many took the opportunity to try mountain biking on the Bowhead bike we received with funds from the Reeve Foundation. It has been incredible witnessing the joy this brings to each individual.”

Soon after the initial bike purchase, High Five bought additional Bowheads in response to the positive feedback they received from athletes. Last year, the organization held two adaptive mountain bike camps, each with roughly 30 High Fives athletes, ranging from beginners to advanced riders. Participants spent the day exploring the mountain, and the camps helped athletes build new skills, improve endurance and strengthen their athletic endeavors. Five additional camps are scheduled for this summer.

“These days are filled with fun, friendly competitions, achieving personal goals and so many high fives. We are fortunate to be headquartered in a beautiful place that begets an active lifestyle, with trails just begging to be discovered on wheels,” says Karacozoff. “We pride ourselves on building sustainable, symbiotic relationships with like-minded organizations, and this permits us to host these safe, incredible events.”