$77K and counting raised via online effort for Asheville man with cancer

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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John F. Ptak with his wife, author Patti Digh, and their daughter. Ptak is fighting kidney cancer.

The John F. Ptak Relief Fund raised $18000 in its first 12 hours online.

As fundraising reached the $25K mark, an anonymous donor promised to match the next $25K donated. The matching effort reached its goal, and with the added punch of the anonymous donation, the fund now stands at over $77K and rising.

Relief fund recipient Ptak has been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Over 700 people have supported the fundraising effort created for him, which ends in 27 days and has a goal of $100K to be donated towards his surgery and medical expenses.