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A community market day in Copmanhurst over the weekend attracted plenty of people and raised more than $1000 for 12-year-old Cohen Daly who is currently fighting cancer in the Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney. Image: Emma Pritchard

Community support shines for Cohen in Copmanhurst

Emma Pritchard

 

As 12-year-old Cohen Daly prepares to begin another round of chemotherapy in the oncology unit of the Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney, 640km away, a small rural village in the Clarence Valley rallied together on the weekend to support the brave young man as he fights for his life.

At a community market day in Copmanhurst, preloved treasures, bric-a-brac, homemade goodies, pot plants, second-hand clothing and many more items were generously donated for sale, with the proceeds going directly to Cohen’s ongoing medical expenses.

Within a few hours, more than $1000 had been raised.

Cohen’s grandparents Dave and Trish Seymore who have called Copmanhurst their home for the past seven years, attended the market day on March 6 and said they have been overwhelmed by the love, support and heartfelt generosity their local community and fellow Clarence Valley residents have shown towards their grandson who lives on the Central Coast.

“The generosity has just blown me away,” Mrs Seymore said appreciatively.

“Dave and I, and all of Cohen’s family, we just can’t say thank you enough for the amazing support Cohen is receiving.”

Cohen was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of cancer which begins in the cells that form bones in late 2020 after previously being misdiagnosed with growing pains after he began experiencing discomfort in his left leg.

He has a tumour below his left tibia which measures 12.2cm and 15 tumours in his lungs.

Chemotherapy is currently the best treatment available and doctors will reassess his progress over the next several weeks.

Copmanhurst local Janine Jasper, who hosted the community market day at her Prescott St residence, was absolutely thrilled with the amount raised for Cohen and graciously praised her community for their generosity and eagerness to participate in the event.

“It was good to have all the locals get together and raise a bit of money for Cohen,” she said, adding donations were a big part of the community market day.

“People were really generous and donated all sorts of stuff which we could sell, and it was just great to see so many people turn up.”

Mr Seymore was especially moved by the generous efforts of an elderly lady from Grafton who “must have made 10 dozen desserts and slices,” which she hand-delivered to the community market day.

“She was 85, she brought them all out and said she didn’t need the containers back, and I told her she must have been baking for days,” he revealed.

“And she said, it’s ok, and then she went back home.

“The support was just amazing.

“People came up and asked how much for this and that, we’d say oh $12, they’d say here’s $20 and I don’t need the change.

“The generosity has really blown us away and we’re so thankful for what everyone has done for Cohen.”
The Seymores went to visit their grandson the day after the community market day and said the whole community is fighting the battle alongside Cohen.

A GoFundMe page has also been established to help the 12-year-old and so far, more than $25000 has been raised.

There are several more upcoming events planned to raise funds for Cohen, so keep a lookout in upcoming editions of the Clarence Valley Independent.

Cohen Daly’s grandma Trish Seymore (right) sold plenty of raffle tickets at a community market day in Copmanhurst on March 6 to help raise funds for her grandson’s ongoing medical expenses as he bravely battles cancer. Image: Emma Pritchard.