When a promise of $40,000 to help pay the medical bills for a Utah teen fighting cancer fell through, strangers stepped up to help bridge the financial gap.
Teenager Alexis Gould and her family were shocked when, in late September, a man from their local community pledged to donate the money through his company to Gould's GoFundMe account at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City.
The family realized several weeks later that the pledge had not been filled. Emily Gould, Alexis' mom, said she knows who the anonymous donor is and cannot explain why he didn't fulfill his promise.
"I want to believe he had good intentions,” said Gould, and “that at one point he believed the money would come through."
The money, however, is pouring in from other people. A GoFundMe account for Alexis has raised more than $25,000 with more than 200 donations made in the last two days. Gould said that she believes the vast majority of those donations are from strangers.
Gould said her 15-year-old daughter is being treated for neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nerves. "It's going to be a long-term fight," Gould said. "The money is obviously going to help that. But at the same time, we feel strange taking other people's heard-earned money. The outpouring of support has been incredible."
Alexis’ GoFundMe page created the hashtag #alexisstrong to raise awareness of the teen’s battle with cancer.
It's that hashtag -- #alexisstrong -- that was the theme of the football game and support rally that sparked the initial $40,000 pledge. At the game, a "Miracle Minute" raised $2,500 from people in attendance.
Gould said she is deeply grateful for the support of her friends, neighbors and community.
"We don't live in an affluent community," she explained. "Most people we know live paycheck to paycheck. Everyone we know is doing everything they can to help and we are so grateful. I want to thank them for their love and support."