RNE basketball player shooting for charity

Nigel Chaney will be playing with a purpose in the Chick-fil-A Classic.

The Richland Northeast senior will be raising money for the Palmetto Children’s Hospital based on his performance during the tournament. Chaney’s raising money for each point he scores in the Classic, and is also accepting flat donations.

Chaney’s sister, Caprese Brown, came up with the idea to raise money. As a child, Chaney suffered from Kawasaki, a disease that’s uncommon in American children. It causes inflammation in the walls of medium-sized arteries throughout the body.

Chaney was hospitalized for a few weeks, as his fingernails and skin started peeling off. Doctors treated the disease, but Chaney had to go back regularly for checkups to monitor his heart and arteries.

“It looked kind of crazy at first, but it was able to be monitored with treatment,” Brown said. “Being he is so appreciative, he has decided his final appearance in the tournament as an opportunity to raise money for Palmetto Children’s Hospital.”

Originally, doctors said Chaney might not be able to play sports. He has been a four-year player for the Cavaliers and is the team’s starting point guard, scoring15 points in Wednesday’s loss to Ridge View.

“Great opportunity for school and he is trying to do a great job to do community service,” RNE coach Aaron Lucas said. “We try to develop these young men and teach them to do things in the community. This is just an example of what we are trying to build here. He and his sister have done a great job of putting this plan together.”

So far, Chaney has raised $500 and they hope to get more donations this weekend. If you would like to donate, contact Brown at capreseb@yahoo.com or 973-495-6759.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 4:32 PM.