GoFundMe Launched For Tuscaloosa County Teen Battling Cancer After Plea To President Trump Goes Viral

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — An online fundraising effort has already raised over a quarter of million dollars to help cover mounting medical costs for a Tuscaloosa teenager battling a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer.

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The online fundraiser, titled “Rally for Will’s Cancer Journey,” was created to support Will Roberts, who went viral on social media this week after issuing a heartfelt plea to President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

In the video that has been widely circulated online, Will asked for any help possible to access a form of treatment that could potentially cure his cancer.

"My mom’s found this drug that could possibly save my life if we get it in time," he said. "And chances are, this is probably the end of the road for me, and they probably won’t get it in time. But if this can help other kids with my cancer, I would love to help in any way I can. ... We’ve tried basically everything there is, and we’re getting towards the end of the road. I just need help."

Despite Will saying he is "terrified to die," he placed more emphasis on his mother and her tireless efforts to find a cure.

"She’s been researching and researching and researching every single night," he said. "She’s been sleeping in my room because this chemo that I’m on is making me really sick, but it’s not very responsive. And y’all, I called her a couple of times and she was just like bawling, but she wasn’t trying to show it."

Following Will's message being seen by thousands, West Alabama businessman Ric Mayers, who has close connections with President Trump, posted that he was able to get Will's family in touch with Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz.

He also provided the following timeline for how it developed, which reads like a who's who of celebrities wanting to help Will win his battle over cancer.

"Will Roberts' story has reached millions of people," Mayers told Patch. "It made it to the White House and he has been approved for a special clinical drug that can potentially save his life and at the very least extend it. This drug has an approval process of six months and it was approved for him in three hours. Now we need to come together as community and help get him that drug. It takes 5,000 people to donate $100 each."

As of the publication of this story, the GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $253,000 toward a $600,000 goal, with thousands of donations pouring in from supporters.

The online fundraiser says the funds are intended to help offset the significant financial strain caused by Will’s treatment, which includes hospital stays, chemotherapy, travel and time away from work for his family.

"I want my life — I want my life just like anybody does," Will said in the Facebook video. But even if this won’t work out for me, if this drug can get out in the future, it’ll help hundreds of other kids."

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