Truckee’s High Fives Foundation is awarding empower grants to two people who have suffered spinal cord injuries to help them have more active lives.

Taylor Fiddyment, 22, was injured in 2011 in an ATV accident that left her paralyzed. She has worked with the High Fives Foundation, receiving prior grants that have brought her skiing, rock climbing, personal training and physical therapy.

The grant is for a freewheel modification for her wheelchair that will allow her access to terrain normally difficult for standard wheelchairs. The freewheel is attached to the front portion of the chair near her feet.

Truckee resident Jeff Andrews’ grant is for massage therapy with Karen Stubbs at the CR Johnson Healing Center.

In March 2014, Andrews suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in limited use of his hands an legs in a snowboarding accident that occurred at Sugar Bowl.

A new policy allows local athletes with life-altering injuries to workout in the CR Johnson Healing Center for free with trainer Jack Powell. The High Fives Foundation is a Tahoe-based nonprofit that supports the dreams of mountain action sports athletes by raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life-altering injuries.