The community is being asked to help support a young South Coast man and keen rugby league player who is on the long road to recovery after surgery to remove a brain tumour.
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Mount Warrigal resident Cooper Winkelbauer, 19, plays third grade for the Shellharbour Sharks.
"Football's pretty much his life," his mother Erica said.
"He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps football."
However, she said Cooper, who was formerly with the Mount Warrigal Kooris, had been experiencing serious health issues recently.
"From rugby league and touch football this season alone, he's had four concussions, and wasn't really allowing his body time to heal and completely recover," she said.
"After the fourth one, he was getting headaches and it was affecting his sight, so I said, 'that's enough, we're getting it investigated'."
Two brain lesions were found during an MRI scan, as well as a brain tumour.
"The type of tumour Cooper had was called juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, which required surgery for its removal quite quickly," Mrs Winkelbauer said.
The surgery took place on May 31, with 98 per cent of the tumour being able to be removed. It was also found to be non-cancerous.
"However, they are known to grow back, but at what rate we're not sure," Mrs Winkelbauer said.
"So basically every six months now for the rest of his life he will need scans to be done, just to make sure it's not growing back, and that we're not going to run into complications of it affecting his sight, balance and what not."
Mrs Winkelbauer said her son, who has been working as a before- and after-school tutor, was recovering in Wollongong Hospital following a second surgery.
"At the moment, his sight isn't back 100 per cent," she said.
"He suffers quite badly from vertigo, headaches, nausea. So while the surgeries have been a success, there's still a long way to recovery."
A fundraiser will take place to assist Cooper with ongoing medical costs during his recovery, and living costs.
"Rockin' for Cooper" will take place on Saturday, June 26, at Diamond Dogs Music Lounge and Bar, Dapto.
The fundraiser is being organised by family friend, Berkeley's Dylan Thomas.
It will include musical bingo, DJs and karaoke.
He said the goal was to raise more than $1000.
"It'll be fun for the whole family, a great family night out," Mr Thomas said.
"Come on, Illawarra - let's dig deep for Cooper."
Doors open 6pm, with the event kicking off at 7.30pm.
Tickets are $15 from diamonddogslounge.com.au, or $20 at the door.
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