Joel Cummings awaits new lungs

Cummings, 24, has cystic fibrosis, and he is on the list for a double-lung transplant at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

He and his wife, Saundra, are now living in Seattle.

The B Positive saying? That’s his blood type.

To help with the cost of this transplant, Joel’s case was accepted by the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, a nonprofit charity based in Bloomington, Ind., dedicated to help communities raise funds for those who need transplants.

So far, Baker County has raised nearly $38,000 with all sorts of fundraisers — a fun run, “Tips for Joel” ($2,100), the FFA drive-through barbecue ($4,100), a softball game between the county and city ($5,462.28), a coin drive at Baker Middle School ($600), a chili feed and many, many more.

“That’s phenomenal — just coins,” Betty Spooner said of the BMS fundraiser.

Spooner and Ali Deputy are the local contacts working with COTA to raise awareness and keep track of the fundraisers.

“So many people have organized and run an event,” Spooner said. “A huge ‘thank you’ for what everyone has done.”

One hundred percent of the money raised goes to help Joel.

And this community isn’t finished.

On Friday, the Baker High School football game against La Grande is dedicated to Joel. There will be a silent auction of desserts and a 50/50 raffle. Also, everyone attending is encouraged to wear blue in honor of Joel’s favorite team, North Carolina.

Next week, Nov. 9-13, has been dubbed “Drive to Survive” to promote the Ford pickup truck being raffled to raise money.

Each day the red truck will be parked at a different business, and from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day free coffee, cider and hot cocoa will be served from the tailgate. Raffle tickets are $20 each or six for $100.

The finale fundraiser for 2009 happens Dec. 22 when the Baker High varsity basketball team takes on the alumni. A spaghetti dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. at the high school commons, and the cost is by donation. Also, several items will be sold by silent auction and there may even be a paper airplane toss to snag some prizes.

The goal is to raise $100,000 by July 2010, which will mark a year since Joel first joined COTA. Within that first year, COTA will match 10 percent of the money raised, up to $100,000.

COTA pays Joel’s expenses for everything related to the transplant, including living and travel expenses. His account with COTA is for his lifetime, so people can donate at any time.

But what his mom, Phyllis, really wants right now is words — she encourages everyone to visit Joel’s COTA Web site and leave a note in the guestbook.

“If you don’t know what to say, just talk about what happened to you today,” she said.

His Web site is www.cotaforjoelc.com. There you can check on the amount raised so far (click on Donate Now to see the fundraiser thermometer), read his blog and write him a note in the guestbook.

For more information about the local fundraisers, call Ali Deputy at 523-1050.