Online fundraising helps cancer patients offset treatment costs

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Hearing the words, "You have breast cancer," can be devastating, with the emotional, physical and financial burden it creates. The option of online fundraising is gaining in popularity to help offset the high cost of treatment.

Kia Page is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Her most recent diagnosis earlier this year required a double mastectomy with reconstruction.

"I didn't know how long i was going to be off," Page said. "I'm a single mom. It's just me and my daughter. I still have to pay my bills regardless of what's going on."

Trying to keep things as normal as possible, she looked into online fundraising.

"Everybody is always online," Page said. "You shop on line, you go on social media, you do everything online. You pay your bills, everything!"

She set up an account on GoFundMe.com and the donations quickly started coming in, from family and friends, like Tianna Hite, also a breast cancer survivor.

http://www.gofundme.com/

"I was going through chemo. She set up her GoFundMe account and I'm like, I'm going to help in any way possible," Hite said.

While there is no cost to set up an online fundraising campaign on GoFundMe, there is a small fee that will be deducted from all donations.

The company states, "GoFundMe will deduct a 5 percent fee from each donation you receive...a small processing fee of about 3 percent will also be deducted from each donation."

Julie McGonigal was shocked when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, right after her 30th birthday. Her head swimming with decisions on surgery, chemo and fertility treatments, a friend suggested a fundraiser - and an online fundraiser for people who couldn't attend.

It has been amazing to see the generosity not only of my friends and family, but from people I've never met before that just heard about my story from my friends and family members," McGonigal said.

It's easy to set up an account. Enter basic information, your story and a picture. Donations go directly to your account and can be withdrawn in less than a week. For breast cancer patients, its benefits are more than financial.

"Having the support of other people and just knowing that other people who didn't know me care was amazing," McGonigal said.

GoFundMe uses highly-secure payment encryption technology to keep donors' online payments safe. The site is user friendly and has an average 5 minute customer service response time.

Most donations are considered to be personal gifts and are not taxed as income. But you should always check with your tax professional.