The fundraising goal has recently been updated per a conversation between Tony and Rick Lofgren, COTA President & CEO. This letter below from Rick explains the recent change:

Greetings from COTA!

I want to congratulate the COTA for Tonys Lungs volunteer team for organizing to raise funds for the campaign in honor of Tony!

When I set the campaign fundraising goals with each of our families, I suggest a goal to COTA patients that I believe is needed for any patient’s long-term expenses and transplant-related costs, and the goal generally reflects the next four to five years of out-of-pocket costs. For example, most of our patients will have $5,000 to $7,500 in annual co-payments, deductibles, and medications, as well as additional costs for an extended in-patient stay, clinic visits and a similar amount for travel to the transplant center. 

In this case I spoke with Tony this week and suggested that we raise the goal to better reflect what I believe are the true long-term expenses that a patient will incur in the future. Because of this, I have increased the goal for the COTA for Tonys Lungs campaign from $10,000 to $65,000 to reflect what I believe will be actual costs going forward based on his in-patient stays and extended wait. 

Please know there are many factors in this and that I bear the responsibility of justifying this to anyone who asks, and am happy to do this as I believe that it is the right thing to do given Tony’s health status.

Thank you for all the work and support you have provided to this point, and please keep Tony in your prayers as he continues to wait for his life-saving transplant.