Lauren Alaina asks fans to donate to stepdad’s cancer fund

Country singer Lauren Alaina is helping to raise funds to cover her stepfather’s medical costs as he battles stage 4 cancer.
The What Ifs hitmaker took to Instagram on Saturday (30Jun18) to share a health update with fans, after previously revealing her stepdad Sam Ramker was battling the disease, and asked those wanting to donate to do so via a GoFundMe page set up in his honour.
“I am not one to ask for anything, but you guys have consistently been reaching out,” the former American Idol star wrote, before directing them to the online campaign, which aims to raise $100,000 (£76,200) to help cover his mounting treatment bills.
“He is fighting harder than I thought was possible. He is the strongest person I know,” Lauren continued. “Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you’re two or 80 years old. It doesn’t care if you’re a perfectly healthy 47 year old step-father, husband, and grandfather who eats healthily and runs 6 miles a day. It can happen to anyone.
“To the families and people who have been affected by this horrible disease or any disease, my family has felt the pain you’ve felt for the last four months. We are praying for you. We love you, and we are so thankful for all of the love coming our way.”
Lauren’s emotional post was accompanied by a snap of herself posing with Sam and her mother, after taking home a top prize at the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards in March (18).
“I chose this picture because of how happy that trophy made him,” she explained. “We found out I won New Female Vocalist of the Year at the @acmawards the same week we found out he has cancer. We made sure he and my mom were there for the award show (sic). That trophy is my very favorite thing I’ve ever gotten. It brought so much happiness in a week of sadness. That’s how God works.”
The GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $11,000 (£8,380) as WENN went to press.