Don Johnson, 81, went viral after a video of him carrying heavy luggage up a flight of stairs started circulating online. The footage prompted a GoFundMe campaign to help him, but the fundraiser has now been shut down.
After a video of 81-year-old Don started spreading online, it quickly went viral. In the doorbell footage, he can be seen carrying two heavy pieces of luggage up the stairs.
Don, who lives in Dallas, Texas, has spent the past three years delivering lost luggage back to its owners. He took on the job to help cover the cost of treatment for his wife, Josephine, who is battling cancer.
Erin Howell noticed Don after seeing him carrying suitcases up the stairs. Curious to learn more about him, she eventually discovered why he was doing the work and decided to set up a fundraiser to help Don and his wife.
Don Johnson GoFundMe
On the GoFundMe page she started to help him, Howell wrote: “The other day, I looked out my door cam and saw an 81-year-old man slowly and painstakingly carrying my heavy luggage that had been lost on a recent flight up a steep flight of stairs.
“He looked absolutely exhausted, and his steps were heavy with effort.”
The fundraiser went on to raise more than $281,000 before it was taken down. In a statement to Fox 4, GoFundMe said: “Ensuring GoFundMe is a safe and trusted place to give and receive help is our top priority,” according to UNILAD.
“After further review by our Trust & Safety team, the organizer account and fundraiser have been found to be in violation of our Terms of Service, and the fundraiser removed and refunded.”
“It’s absolutely devastating”
According to GoFundMe, it took action ’to protect donors’ generosity and ‘require authenticity and transparency for donors.’
Don’s daughter, Amy Johnson, has now also spoken out, claiming the GoFundMe was taken down on ‘a technicality’.
She said: “The account was originally mine so we thought it would be easier if we just used it.
“They didn’t allow us to provide any documentation. They just basically said that they were refunding everything.
“Everything on that page is 100 percent true. My mother is suffering from pancreatic cancer and my dad is delivering luggage to help.
“It’s absolutely devastating right now because we had so much hope and we were able to take care of the medical bills and everything, so to lose it is just really hard.”
Supporters have set up a new fundraising campaige
Before the campaign was shut down, Don had spoken about his hope that the money raised would eventually mean he no longer had to keep working.
In an interview with Fox 4, Don said: “I think I’m going to be able to stop working, and that’s amazing,
“So we’re not quite totally over the hump yet, but we’re getting there very quickly.”
His wife added: “I can face it. I think that’s the big difference. Some have made comments and they’re praying for us. And it’s just, it’s a joyful feeling.”
More than 5,300 people reportedly contributed to the original fundraiser before it was taken offline, according to reports.
Supporters have since set up a new fundraising campaign for Don on GiveSendGo, where donations have now surpassed $45,000.
The new campaign comes as Don and his family face the loss of the original funds raised to help cover Josephine’s cancer treatment and, as Don had hoped, eventually allow him to stop working.
Read more:
