HIghlandtown Fire Chief Jeremiah Cole who helped organized the event and is Cody’s older brother said they had planned for 450 dinners figuring that would be enough and that they would probably have leftovers to deal with. Halfway through the event, Jeremiah began to wonder if they would have enough dinners to serve.

“It’s phenomenal, it’s mind-blowing, it’s breathtaking the amount of people that showed up to show support for my little brother,” Jeremiah said. “The community showed out ten-fold. It’s amazing how many people are here.”

Jeremiah noted that East Liverpool City Hospital purchased dinners, Heritage Thermal stopped in to buy multiple dinners and Life Team sent both their crews down and West Point Volunteer Fire Department sent their crews down to buy dinners in support of Cody.

“The support has been overwhelming,” Jeremiah said.

The line of people for spaghetti dinners at the fundraising event held for Firefighter Cody Cole at Sons of Italy went out the door and down the block. (Photo by Kristi R, Garabrandt)

The fundraiser was organized to help Cody cover his medical expenses after he was diagnosed with Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (PVNS) in his knee in January. The disease is rare and affects only about two to eight people out of one million.

Cody had surgery on January 26 to remove the tumor which ate a spot out of his femur about an egg’s size. The spot was filled with cadaver bone to help strengthen his knee so he can have a knee replacement in the future.

The fundraiser brought out more people than anyone anticipated and received more donations for a Chinese auction then what they thought they would receive.

According to Jeremiah, it was thought they would have maybe 40 gift baskets for the auction. But they ended up with over 90, including some big tickets items such as a smart television, a fire pit, and $100 cash. One local business even donated as a prize a new furnace with installation.

Dallas Cole, owner of Alcatraz Body Modifications, and Cody and Jeremiah’s cousin oversaw the multiple firearms provided to be raffled off along with a target.

Fundraisers attendees drop their tickets into bags for the over 90 Chinese auction items donated to fundraiser to help Wellsville Firefighter Cody Cole with medical expenses (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

A 50/50 drawing was also held at the fundraiser with the winner pocketing $485.

Cody spent most of the evening talking to almost everyone in attendance as they came through the door.

Many who came turned down the dinner and provided a donation instead or came just to take part in the auction and raffles.

Many of Cody’s supporters wore T-shirts which were available for purchase that said “Cody Knees Our Support.”

I think it’s amazing that his friends, fellow firefighters and the community all came together to help get him through his time of need,” Wellsville Firefighter Melinda Stock said. “It’s very heartwarming.”

Firefighter Cody Cole spent the majority of the time during the fundraiser held to help raise money for medical expenses, greeting and talking to just about everyone who attended. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Mark May, who is the uncle of Cody’s wife said he just simply could not believe the amount of people who showed up and that Cody was overwhelmed by it.

“It’s pretty great and it’s really good to this” said Maddy Wrasp, who grew up with Cody and came just to help him out.

“I am overwhelmed, just completely overwhelmed by all this,” Cody said. “This is crazy, there are so many people here.”

Cody said he was not figuring anywhere near the amount of people that came and that people had hadn’t seen in years even came. Somehow, he knew just about everyone there.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Cody repeated. “This is going to be help, not only with my medical bills. We just lost our well on Thursday, it collapsed.”

T-shirts which said “Cody Knees Our Support” were printed and sold to help raise money. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

The family is now having to go to his in-laws’ to shower or to the fire station.

“We are doing what we got to do to get by,” Cody said. “When it rains it pours and all you can do when you wake up is put your foot down on the floor and go forward.”

No one was able to provide a count on how many people attended the event or the amount of money raised at the end of the evening.

Cody returned to light duty work in dispatch Monday. It will be several months before he returns to firefighting.