Heartfelt and generous fundraising efforts continue for Chanel Cogan, a recent Redmond High School (RHS) graduate who suffered numerous severe injuries after falling 100 feet from a cliff during a camping trip on July 31.
Chanel remains hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where according to her Caring Bridge Web site (www.caringbridge.org/visit/chanelcogan), she has alternately been on and off a ventilator, is receiving nourishment through a feeding tube, showing some signs of recognizing her loved ones and has undergone several surgeries.
As of Thursday, Aug. 12, Chanel was moved out of the intensive care unit at Harborview but still faces additional surgeries and recovery time.
Last weekend, a Home Run Derby at Hartman Park, organized by family friend Logwone Mitz, brought in around $2,400 to help with Chanel’s medical bills. And a car wash at the Redmond Athletic Club, organized by Sarah Weingold netted more than $5,200 in donations. Another friend, Tanner Aaron, is helping to search for prizes for a money-raising raffle to help Chanel’s family.
The desire to help the Cogan family is even uniting staunch supporters of both the Washington State University (WSU) Cougars and University of Washington (UW) Huskies.
Mitz, who organized the Home Run Derby and graduated from RHS in 2007 with Chanel’s sister, Tiffany Cogan, plays football for the WSU Cougars.
Meanwhile, another of Tiffany’s RHS Class of 2007 classmates, David Schulman, is a member of the UW Hockey Club team and is organizing a fundraiser at the game between UW and WSU on Saturday, Oct. 2.
“We play our games at Olympic View Ice Arena, 22202 70th Ave. W. in Mountlake Terrace,” said Schulman. “The arena can seat around 1,000 and I want to get the house packed. We have had around 400-500 at our games but there is room for much more. My plan was to get local businesses from Redmond, the U-District and the greater Seattle area to donate goods and services that we can raffle off. A portion of ticket sales will also get donated.”
Schulman added, “All of us players pay to play so we need to cover our own expenses for ice time and refs but basically, a large portion of the sales will be donated.”
Schulman said he hopes that the raffles will be also be a huge source of income to help the Cogan family.
“The better the prizes, the more money we can raise,” Schulman noted. “And if we get enough donations for the Oct. 3 game, we will also run raffles at our Oct. 23 game against Oregon.”
To offer prizes or donations to help Chanel Cogan and her family, contact David Schulman at robotxfood@hotmail.com.
Also, Bank of America, any branch, is now accepting contributions to a Chanel Cogan Fund.
Yet another fundraiser, a multi-family garage sale and bake sale is scheduled from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at 16713 NE 87th St. and nearby homes in Redmond. Kids’ clothes, bicycles and furniture are among the items to be sold. Donations for the garage sale are also being accepted. Contact Pam Tschumi at pam.tschumi@gmail.com.
