AUBURN - A local man who will be receiving a kidney from his daughter, was overwhelmed Sunday when the community came out to support him and his family as they prepare for the surgery.
“The more I look around this room, the more amazed I am,” said Chet Copes, a local basketball standout, coach and mentor, during a benefit held in his honor at Auburn's Holiday Inn. “I am just amazed, they all really care. I know a lot of people, but I never really knew how much they cared. This is something that says a lot about the people in this area.”
Chet, who is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, said that for nearly three years he has had to go through an eight-hour kidney dialysis procedure at home every night.
“It cleans you right out, it filters all of your blood,” Chet said as he described the routine. “It's quite an ordeal. You have to set it up every night and then take it back down.”
While Chet's 33-year-old daughter, Shayna Copes will be donating a kidney, his wife, Lorraine, said they still needed to raise money for the operation, which is expected to occur early next year. With insurance only covering 80 percent of the operation and medical costs, the family must come up with the rest of the money.
“That's going to be thousands of dollars, and that's for the first year alone,” Lorraine said. “All the money here will be used to pay for his medicines. The community was really great, local businesses donated a lot of the stuff, and people volunteered to help set up.”
With a DJ, door prizes and 50-50 raffles, people had several opportunities to support the family while having a good time.
Auburn resident Karl McLaurin III said he came out to support a man who was both a father figure and a mentor to him.
“My father, Karl McLaurin II, and Chet went to school together,” McLaurin said. “When my father passed away, he kind of became my father figure. For me, he was inspirational. He inspired me not to only achieve as much as he did in life, but more. He would push you to go further and would make sure you never forgot where you came from.”
While Chet was grateful for the community's support, he said he was originally hesitant to let his daughter donate a kidney.
“I didn't want any of my children to go through this ordeal, but (Shayna) wanted to do it,” Chet said. “If I didn't let her, I would have been placed on a waiting list, and you never know how long that could take,” Chet said.
As Chet and his daughter continue to prepare for the surgery, Shayna downplayed her role, and said it was the community that was doing something special for her father.
“He's my dad, it's something you don't think twice about or question,” Shayna said. “Everyone in this community chipped in. Local businesses donated items and friends and family volunteered their time and support. It's an overwhelming feeling seeing all of this. I cant say how good this feels.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
How to help
Anyone interested in making a donation to Chet Copes can send a check to:
The Chet Copes Benefit Fund
84 E. Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021
Chet, who is suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, said that for nearly three years he has had to go through an eight-hour kidney dialysis procedure at home every night.
“It cleans you right out, it filters all of your blood,” Chet said as he described the routine. “It's quite an ordeal. You have to set it up every night and then take it back down.”
While Chet's 33-year-old daughter, Shayna Copes will be donating a kidney, his wife, Lorraine, said they still needed to raise money for the operation, which is expected to occur early next year. With insurance only covering 80 percent of the operation and medical costs, the family must come up with the rest of the money.
“That's going to be thousands of dollars, and that's for the first year alone,” Lorraine said. “All the money here will be used to pay for his medicines. The community was really great, local businesses donated a lot of the stuff, and people volunteered to help set up.”
With a DJ, door prizes and 50-50 raffles, people had several opportunities to support the family while having a good time.
Auburn resident Karl McLaurin III said he came out to support a man who was both a father figure and a mentor to him.
“My father, Karl McLaurin II, and Chet went to school together,” McLaurin said. “When my father passed away, he kind of became my father figure. For me, he was inspirational. He inspired me not to only achieve as much as he did in life, but more. He would push you to go further and would make sure you never forgot where you came from.”
While Chet was grateful for the community's support, he said he was originally hesitant to let his daughter donate a kidney.
“I didn't want any of my children to go through this ordeal, but (Shayna) wanted to do it,” Chet said. “If I didn't let her, I would have been placed on a waiting list, and you never know how long that could take,” Chet said.
As Chet and his daughter continue to prepare for the surgery, Shayna downplayed her role, and said it was the community that was doing something special for her father.
“He's my dad, it's something you don't think twice about or question,” Shayna said. “Everyone in this community chipped in. Local businesses donated items and friends and family volunteered their time and support. It's an overwhelming feeling seeing all of this. I cant say how good this feels.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
How to help
Anyone interested in making a donation to Chet Copes can send a check to:
The Chet Copes Benefit Fund
84 E. Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021
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