Broomfield Fundraiser For Young Man Struck By Hit-And-Run Driver

BROOMFIELD, CO – A young man, struck by a hit and run driver on his bike, is getting some help to pay medical bills from a Broomfield local restaurant.

CJ Chopper was struck by a hit-and-run driver on June 14. His father, Josh Chopper has set up a fundraiser July 15 to help pay down about $60,000 worth of medical bills for CJ's June back surgery at Children's Hospital.

According to Fox31, Josh Chopper lost his wife two years ago in a car accident while driving a football team home from the airport in a school bus.

“She saved the lives of everybody else on that bus,” Chopper told Fox31. “It turned my world upside-down. She was my world. She was the rock of my foundation.”

When he heard his son had been hit by a car, Josh Chopper told the TV station, "All over again, I'm thinking in my head, 'am I going to have to plan another funeral?'"

CJ had already had several back surgeries including inserting of metal rods near his spine, but the accident broke one rod and bent another one, according to a Facebook post. He had surgery about three weeks ago.

Sandy Christman, who owns Three Chicks restaurant in Broomfield, knows the elder Chopper as a loyal customer of the breakfast and lunch restaurant that serves lots of comfort food.

Christman was happy to host a fundraiser for CJ's medical bills, because she considers customers like Josh Chopper her "family," she said.

The fundraiser Sunday July 15 at 2420 E Midway Blvd in Broomfield, will run from 5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Read the Fox 31 coverage here.

Image via Patch.com

Get Patched In:
Stay up-to-date on Broomfield and Boulder news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Newsletters and Email Alerts|Facebook