The city of Vancouver is holding a community toy and gift drive in honor of one of its employees, who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer.
Korey Cochran, 37, a computer support specialist for the city’s Information Technology department, learned Nov. 14 he had glioblastoma multiforme grade IV, a malignant brain tumor. A city employee for more than nine years, Cochran has continued to work despite his diagnosis, according to a city press release.
The city and its more than 900 employees will collect unwrapped toys now through Thursday for Cochran’s two children, Kyrsten, 4, and Kynen, 20 months, as well as gift cards to support family expenses such as groceries and gas. Unwrapped toys and gifts also are being collected to donate to Vancouver charities in Cochran’s honor.
“Korey is a selfless man and a committed husband and father,” said Cochran’s supervisor Katherine Nye, the city’s Technical Services manager. “Korey’s Joy Drive is the city’s way of honoring Korey. Together, with community support, we will bring a joyful and memorable Christmas to this well-deserving family.”
The gifts will be delivered to the Cochran’s home at noon Friday with the help of Vancouver police, fire and parks and recreation staff, the main departments Cochran has supported as part of his job.
A GoFundMe campaign also has been set up by Cochran’s extended family to support the cost of clinical trials and other experimental treatment options. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/koreycochran.
Just a week prior to his diagnosis, Cochran helped save a man’s life. He and another employee rushed to the man’s aid after receiving an alert from their PulsePoint emergency mobile apps notifying them of an unconscious man at Esther Short Park. They performed CPR until the Vancouver Fire Department and paramedics arrived, the press release said.
New, unwrapped toys or gift cards for Korey’s Joy Drive can be brought to the front desks at the following locations:
• Vancouver City Hall, 415 W. Sixth St.
• Vancouver Tennis Center, 5300 E. 18th St.
• Marshall Community Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
• Firstenburg Community Center, 700 N.W. 136th Ave.
For more information, call Jen Thomas at Vancouver Parks and Recreation at 360-487-7019 or Nye in the city’s Information Technology department at 360-719-0596.
Follow Cochran’s journey on his personal blog on CaringBridge.com: www.caringbridge.org/visit/koreycochran.
