53-year-old Rob Roy, an emergency medical technician with Harleysville Area EMS and firefighter with the Fire Department of Montgomery Township.
A Hatfield man who has spent the majority of his adult life serving the North Penn community now finds himself in need of their support, as 53-year-old Rob Roy, a firefighter, emergency medical technician and father of three, has been diagnosed with cancer.
According to Shannon O’Leary, who recently launched a GoFundMe in support of the Roy family, Rob was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer on Sept. 24. He was scheduled for surgery to remove a mass in his colon on Oct. 29, but the tumor had unfortunately doubled in size and spread to his small intestines and lymph nodes.
With the tumor now being inoperable, O’Leary said that Rob is seeking to begin an aggressive course of radiation and chemotherapy, in the hopes of shrinking the tumor to a size that can be surgically removed in the future.
“I want to do all I can for Rob and his boys,” said O’Leary, whose daughter, MiKayla, is dating one of Roy’s sons. “ [Rob’s son] Keegan had asked me to be a part of the fundraising, and I accepted without a doubt. I will do whatever it takes to help.”
The GoFundMe page, which was only created yesterday, has already surpassed its initial goal of $10,000, raised by way of 199 donations and counting. As of the time this article was written, the total amount of donations was in excess of $13,400, with new donations coming in every few minutes.
O’Leary said the funds will be used by the family to take care of whatever is needed both medically and personally, including medical bills, household bills, deductibles, transportation, medical supplies, children’s needs and more.
Click here to donate to the GoFundMe page for Rob Roy
“Through the years, Rob and his family have become a part of our family,” O’Leary said. “My daughter, MiKayla, adores him, as does anyone that comes in contact with Rob. He is a great and honorable man.”
As a testament to both his devotion to the community and his personal fortitude, Rob continued to serve as a firefighter with the Fire Department of Montgomery Township and an emergency medical technician with Harleysville Area EMS for weeks after his diagnosis. Only after he went in for the surgical procedure in late October did he finally become inactive.
Rob’s youngest son, Keegan, 17, said the diagnosis has hit his father hard, both financially and by way of prohibiting him from doing what he loves.
“It has affected him hard, both through work—not only financially—but [also] emotionally, because my dad loves [his] work and what he does, and he isn't able to do it anymore, [at least] for a while,” said Keegan. “Personally, it's not my journey to tell, but I am sure you can imagine.”
In addition to the GoFundMe effort, a Beef and Beer has been scheduled for Dec. 15 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Upper Gwynedd Fire Department, located at 660 Garfield Avenue in Upper Gwynedd Township. Tickets for the event cost $25, and the evening will include food, music, drinks, raffles, a 50/50 raffle and more.
Organizers are hoping to enlist the help of local businesses for the fundraiser, by way of gift cards and donations for the raffles. Until then, they hope to see a continued outpouring of support via the GoFundMe page.
“Whenever I read the comments on the GoFundMe page, it puts a constant smile on my face, and I am sure it puts a smile on Rob’s [face] as well,” said O’Leary. “Rob is a man with such great character, and caretaking comes natural to him. It’s who he is, and what he is about.”
See also:
Charity Car Wash Raises $5,200 for Local Boy with Bone Cancer
Tattooing For Charity: Local Shop Hosting Fundraiser For Baby With Leukemia
Local Comedian Overwhelmed By Support Following Cancer Diagnosis
Taylor Goettner, Newlywed Cancer Patient, Dies at 26
Montgomery Elementary Raises $20k To Help Cancer Patients
