Waitsfield, Vermont - May 11, 2011
Roy Tuscany greeted guests at his fundraiser in Waitsfield Wednesday, but 5 years ago his doctors were not sure he'd ever walk again.
The former Vermonter moved out west after high school with dreams of becoming a professional skier, but a major skiing accident nearly derailed his dreams.
"What happened was I burst, fractured my T12 vertebra into my spinal cord, that left my paralyzed from the bellybutton down," Tuscany explained.
He said when Vermonters got wind of his injury they stepped in big time, as well as a few other sponsors, to help pay for his recovery costs.
"All said and done I have $85,000 raised for me that I could use for massage, acupuncture, physical therapy, adaptive equipment," Tuscany added.
Thankful for all the support, Tuscany decided to help others recover, too.
He says the name for his foundation came from something he says helped him get through daily recovery, high fives.
Tuscany said, "When I met physical therapists and doctors they were always kind of cold, they did not want to interact with me. I would make them come right up and say 'give me a high five.' They would be like, wait, what? I'd be like do not be afraid, it is cool. You have done it since you were like 2 years old.'"
The High Fives Foundation helps cover the costs of rehabilitation and alternative medical treatment for injured athletes and introduces people with disabilities to skiing. In the past two years they have helped 15 athletes, including three from Vermont like Brennan Dekeersgieter.
"I was going off of this bar cliff thing and caught my edge on a rock... broke my pelvis, my wrist, my head, my right ear drum and my shoulder," Dekeersgieter said.
He says High Five provided financial and moral support.
The organization recently produced a DVD of success stories to help others through their recovery.
"If I could have seen a story on me while I was in the hospital I would have been so much more amped to just get it done," he said.
Dekeersgieter is back on the hill 8 months after his accident. He says every time he spots an adaptive athlete he is reminded of how lucky he really is.
He said "Oh my gosh yes, because that could be me, you know. I am out there normally now, but I am definitely wearing a helmet."
High Fives success is welcome news to Vermont Adaptive, which puts about 2,000 athletes on the hill every year in Vermont. It recently got a $1,000 donation from High Fives, and says its help goes beyond the money.
"They dispel stereotypes and break down barriers we would never be able to. These guys are young, successful athletes," said Erin Fernandez of Vermont Adaptive.
So far this year High Fives has raised $260,000. Money they say goes to support athletes, and other like-minded nonprofits.
Molly Smith - WCAX News
Roy Tuscany
Brennan Dekeersgieter
