Benefit concert for two Fredon boys

FREDON — This Saturday, April 21, a benefit concert will be held at Lodestar Park in Fredon to raise funds to help cover the cost of medical bills for two Fredon boys who are facing serious medical issues. Christian Copeman is an effervescent 15-year-old from Fredon that has been recently diagnosed with a stage four cancerous tumor in his abdomen. Copeman is undergoing care at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. He attends Kittatinny Regional High School where he is active in football, baseball and basketball. Braeden Hahn is an amazing 11-year-old boy being treated for severe aplastic anemia at the Valerie Fund Center. Hope for Hahn, along with other patients like him, lies in a bone marrow transplant. Gail Kinney, of Fredon, organized the benefit concert. "I decided to do the event shortly after Christian's diagnosis when I found out that his dad was trying to juggle work and traveling back and forth to NYC every day," said Kinney. "I thought that their focus should be on Christian and have some help with the finances including the mounting medical bills that they would be receiving." Kinney met the Copemans several years ago through her daughter and has coached basketball with Aaron Copeman for the past several years. A day or two after getting the Copeman's permission for the fundraiser, Kinney said she heard about Braeden Hahn and his illness. Braeden is in fifth grade at the Fredon School with Kinney's youngest daughter. This Saturday, the Hope 4 Cope Fundraiser concert event will be held at Lodestar Park from noon to 7 p.m. The event will feature music, food, drinks and family games. The event organizers are asking the community to come out and show their support for these two wonderful young men and to spread the word about the event and make donations. Kittatinny Regional High School bands, No Vertebrae and Serial Crusher Theory, will kick off the event. Following them will be legendary guitarist Mike Lawlor and his band who will perform from 2-5 p.m. The 2 Big 2 Fail Band from Fredon will be concluding the event from 5-7 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person over 5 years of age. Chef Arnold Kruck from the Park Avenue Club was able to secure donations and will be preparing over 100-dozen steamed clams ($4), pulled pork sandwiches ($4) and chicken tender sandwiches ($3). J. Michael's Pizza in Fredon donated 100 pizza pies ($2/slice). The Fredon Fire Department will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks. The Kittatinny Midget Football League is hosting a cotton candy booth. Popcorn and snow cone booths have been donated by the Romano family of Fredon. Many other families have donated water, soda, sandwiches, chips and baked goods. There will be face painting by Fredon School art teacher Beth Delaney and free children's activities, including a hula-hoop contest, bingo, Twister, bean bag toss, tattoos, kickball games and more. Additionally, there will be free cookie decorating and a large 50/50 raffle. Lodestar Park is located on Route 94 across from the Fredon Township Elementary School. To make a donation or to assist in this event, contact Gail Kinney at gail_m _kinney@yahoo.com or call 973-271-6597.