WHere it all started
What began as an unexpected medical crisis quickly became the reason behind a much larger mission. After experiencing firsthand the physical, emotional, and financial weight that can come with a serious diagnosis, the Funkhouser family saw just how much community support can change a family’s ability to move forward.
That experience became the foundation for Funk Cancer: helping other families carry some of that weight when they need it most.
Eric’s Story
Eric Funkhouser is a local fire chief in Indiana, who is giving back to people experiencing medical emergencies. Eric Funkhouser, chief of the Bargersville and Whiteland fire departments, started a nonprofit foundation and its mission comes from personal experience.
As a first responder at the firehouse, Funkhouser is dedicated to saving lives.
But two years ago, he was the one in need. A sudden seizure revealed a cancerous tumor in his brain.
"I was in the hospital for 13 days after we had the craniotomy and everything at the beginning, that's where all this started."
Surgery saved Funkhouser's life, but he quickly realized that community support was key.
“Fundraising from friends and colleagues helped our family survive medical bills, rehab and recovery — together. That's something I learned was sadly not common.”
He discovered a gap in charities for people dealing with the financial fallout of a health scare.
"I heard horror stories of people who went through the same surgery that I'd went through, and then, they're very thankful to get the cancer out and everything, but then being saddled with hundreds of thousands of bills when it's all said and done," which is devastating to families.
That sparked a new mission for me and my family, help others navigate the financial stress of a medical emergency.
"I remember still sitting in the hospital," going through therapy, talking to my wife and my family, saying, 'How do we make a difference? What can we do to help people out?'"
So we decided to start the FunkCancer Foundation. Despite its name, we said the fund will provide money for any medical crisis not just cancer.
Families in need will apply and a board will approve financial help with money raised through golf outings, galas, and more.
"I see this becoming a huge foundation in the future if everything works out, and when people are going through the toughest time in their life, we'll be able to provide funds to help them get through that time, just because of everything that we went through and what it meant to us."