'Success Kid' smashes his fundraising target

We all know Success Kid from our social media feeds - where the toddler with the clenched fist has become the internet shorthand for unexpected success. Now there's every chance that his mum's newsfeed is filled with the meme, after the family has smashed a fundraising target to raise money for his dad's hospital treatment.

Success Kid is actually Sammy Griner, and he's now eight years old. His father Justin is suffering kidney disease, and needed to raise $75,000 to fund pre-treatment and a kidney transplant. So in March, Sammy's mother Laney set up a Go Fund Me page.

There was no mention of Success Kid on the page, but the press made the connection last month, and she wrote in response: "We're the parents of 'Success Kid' for goodness sake. If anyone understands the power, the mass, and goodwill of the Internet, it's those of us lucky enough to experience it daily."

Now the family has closed the fundraising page, after collecting an incredible $100,165. Laney wrote: "I can't thank you all enough for getting us to our goal and way beyond. We're so thankful and humbled by the outpouring of support and kindness. This has all been far beyond our wildest hopes for fundraising. We never could've dreamed this. I'll be eternally grateful for the support and hope you all gave to us. I love the internet so much."
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Success

If anyone has doubts about human nature, then Crowdfunding sites are the place to have it restored, because they are full of stories of endless generosity between strangers.

Last month, for example, we reported on 'The Shoe That Grows', which was raising money to ship shoes to children in extreme poverty. The design of the shoe meant it could be adjusted to grow by four sizes - stopping the children from growing out of donated shoes for years. At the time they had smashed their $50,000 fundraising target, and had made just under $70,000. The page has now made $101,290 and is still accepting donations.

Last month we also reported on Courtney Terry, a 27-year-old mum from south east London, who was advised by the doctors that her kidney cancer was progressing and she should move forward with her plans to get married. Her family set up a crowdfunding page in the hope of giving her the £20,000 wedding of her dreams. There is currently £22,651 in the pot, which will hopefully give the family some incredible memories to cherish.

However, it's worth bearing in mind that while some high-profile campaigns raise the money they need quickly. Others are working hard for every penny. In January we reported on the woman from Liverpool desperately crowdfunding for IVF. Eva McConville needed £6,000 and at the time had raised £1,500. That figure is up to £3,267, after ten months of fundraising.

The family remains positive, and is still striving towards the goal, but it goes to show that crowdfunding is no magical solution, and while we can be proud of what strangers are willing to do for one another, there is clearly still much more to be done

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