Asking for help doesn’t mean that you’ve failed; it just means you’re not alone. That mantra is what the folks behind GoFundMe are all about.
The practice of funding a project, cause or event by raising money from donors on the Internet is called crowdfunding. GoFundMe was launched online nearly five years ago and has become one of the top crowdfunding or fundraising sites for personal causes and life-events. Hundreds of thousands of people have raised more than $900 million collectively from more than 10 million donors through the GoFundMe website.
After conducting research into different fundraising sites, Lucy Elle of Massapequa chose to set up a GoFundMe account for her dog, Leo.
“GoFundMe had the most positive reviews, and I chose them because their site was easy for both me and our donors to use,” said Elle.
The lovable cockapoo lost vision in both of his eyes in the span of only a month. While there is surgery that may help restore vision in at least one of his eyes, and Leo’s owner was willing to do anything to help her furry friend, she needed help with his medical bills.
“Creating the page was a humbling experience because it’s hard to ask for help, particularly financially,” said Elle. “His medical bills so far, including testing, blood work and medicine, are over $3,000 and his surgery will cost approximately another $7,000.”
Elle reached out to family and friends, asking for help to defray the costs. “No gift is too small. Whatever you can give will mean the world to us,” is gratefully posted on her account’s page.
Fortunately for Leo, the response to help the adorable pooch has been overwhelming. According to Elle, it was easy to get the word out, as GoFundMe made it easy to link her cause to all social media platforms, including email.
“What every person looking to fundraise should know is that most of the support will come from your friends and family. That’s something that GoFundMe is also upfront about,” she said, adding that it’s not common to receive a lot of donations from strangers.
When Leo could no longer go for walks, Elle designed shirts for Leo’s supporters to wear.
“We encouraged them to wear the shirts at different locations and to send us pictures,” she said. “I believed firmly that his vision would be restored, and when it was, I wanted to show him all the people who love him and how they took his image around the country.”
Elle documented Leo’s progress through videos and frequent posts, keeping everyone updated as best she could.
“He went blind in the course of a month last summer. He is not diabetic so this was unexpected. However, the doctors said that sometimes this happens with his breed,” said Elle. “To see his world plunged into darkness was a very painful experience for me. He is a loyal and kind dog and I knew I had to do everything in my power to help him see again.”
Leo was originally supposed to have his cataracts removed this past November, but when doctors conducted the final round of testing, they found that Leo’s retinas were detaching.
“There are only several surgeons in the United States who specialize in retinal reattachment for dogs. Our surgeon recommended the one in Virginia Beach and said we had to get down there in a matter of days if Leo stood a chance to see again,” said Elle, who immediately booked a hotel. “After the surgery, it took months for Leo’s vision to return. It came back slowly and gradually, and one day he was simply looking at me and I knew he could see me. I don’t have the words to describe how much of a miracle that was for me.”
Overall, Leo is doing well, however, he has had complications since the retinal surgery and needed another. Elle said that now Leo is dealing with a tumor on his right eyelid that will have to be removed.
“Through all of this, Leo has been extremely patient and cooperative, so I know he will be okay,” said Elle, who is eternally grateful for daily supporters visiting Leo’s page and making donations.
To help “Save Leo’s Eyes,” visit www.gofundme.com/leobear.
