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Support for Brian - A Friend Worth Fighting For
Our dear friend Brian is facing one of life’s hardest turns, a rare form of lung cancer that has required him to step away from the rhythm of daily life and focus fully on healing. The good news? Treatment is working. But even with that hope, the emotional, physical, and financial toll is staggering.
Between treatments, tests, specialist visits, and missed work, the weight is far too heavy to carry without a village behind him.
Brian is the kind of person who shows up for his friends, for his loved ones, for strangers who needed a smile or a helping hand. He is kind, hilarious, loyal, and generous to the core. His life is a force of good, and if you know him, you already know that.
This GoFundMe has been created by those who love him, as fellow musicians, friends, chosen family, and grateful witnesses to his light. Every contribution will go directly toward Brian’s medical expenses and quality of life care, ensuring he can focus on what matters most: fighting, healing, and holding onto hope.
What many don’t realize is just how much time and energy treatment takes, not just the procedures themselves, but the recovery, the travel, the time away from work. While Brian is giving everything he has to his recovery, we want to make sure he never has to worry about how the bills will get paid or how to make ends meet.
If Brian’s voice has ever moved you…
If his presence has ever made you laugh, cry, or feel alive…
If you believe in the power of music to heal and the power of people to show up....
please give what you can, and share this message wide.
Let’s remind Brian just how loved, held, and supported he truly is.
We’ve got you, Brian. We’re walking this road with you, every note, every step.
With fierce love and deep gratitude,
Nick, Amanda & the Circle of Friends Who Love Him
AMPLIFY UPDATE: THE FIGHT CONTINUES - AND SO DO WE
Brian’s battle isn’t over, and neither is our mission.
He’s doing what he does best: facing the storm with grit, wit, and that signature Brian edge that makes you laugh even when shit’s hard. Treatment is underway. It’s WORKING. But healing? Healing needs more than a prescription.
It needs US. All of us.
To relieve the stress.
To carry the financial weight.
To remind him he’s not doing this alone.
We’ve seen incredible support already, and we are so damn grateful. But if you’ve been watching quietly from the sidelines, this is your sign:
⚡️ Now is the time to jump in.
⚡️ Now is the time to share louder.
⚡️ Now is the time to remind Brian just how loved he is.
This isn’t about “helping someone who’s sick.”
This is about standing shoulder to shoulder with a man who’s stood for so many. Who’s given, played, built, lifted, laughed, and shown up without ever asking for applause.
Let’s return the favor.
Let’s keep the momentum moving.
Let’s raise the volume again.
Donate. Share. Comment.
Tell a story. Speak his name. Post a pic.
Be the noise that carries him through.
He’s not alone.
Not on our watch.
#amplifybrian
Brian Update - August 2025
Every 21 days, Brian faces treatment head-on. And every 21 days, he proves that strength is not just in the body, it’s in the spirit, in the music, and in the community that refuses to let him fight alone. The good news: he’s still responding well. The better news: his fire hasn’t dimmed one bit.
Even while carrying this weight, Brian and Under Fallen Skies have released new singles on every streaming platform. And with a few shows on the horizon, the stage is waiting! Reminding us all that music is both medicine and battle cry.
This journey is ongoing. The costs are heavy. But so is the love surrounding him. Every donation, every share, every show of support fuels Brian’s fight. If you’ve given, thank you. If you feel moved to give again or spread the word, know that your ripple matters more than you can imagine.
Brian is still here. Still creating. Still reminding us: hope has a sound, and it’s louder than cancer.
Brian’s fight is fierce. Our love is louder.
Brian Update - September 2025
Another 21 days have passed. And every 21 days, Brian sits for another round of chemo. And every 21 days, he rises again, not just for himself, but for the people he loves.
In between treatments, Brian still goes to work. He still cares for his wife and their home. He still shows up for his father, who needs more support these days and finds it in Brian’s steady hands. And somehow, through all of this, he still builds amps, creates music, and shares his passions with the world.
This is what strength looks like, not the absence of struggle, but the refusal to let struggle erase who you are.
The fight is long, and the costs are heavy. But so is the love surrounding him. Every donation, every share, every ripple of encouragement helps carry Brian through the cycles, through the weight, through the fire.
Brian is still fighting.
Brian is still giving.
Brian is still here.
And that matters more than ever.
Brian’s fight is fierce.
Our love is louder.
Brian Update!
Hi everyone,
Brian’s journey has had another twist - his most recent scan showed a little growth in the cancer. The doctors aren’t backing down; instead, they’re shifting treatments and are fully committed to fighting until remission is no longer a dream but a reality. This battle is far from over, and Brian is right there in it - relentless, resilient, unshakable.
What amazes us all is how much Brian continues to carry with so much heart. He’s still caring for his father, making sure errands are run and things are taken care of. He’s still showing up for his wife. He’s still working. And somehow, in the middle of it all, he’s pouring himself into the thing that has always lit him up most: music.
This Friday, Under Fallen Skies takes the stage again, one of several shows on the calendar this year. And if that weren’t enough, they’ve released six brand-new songs now streaming everywhere. Music has always been Brian’s way of giving back, of creating connection, of fighting darkness with sound. Right now, every lyric, every note, every show is proof: strength has a soundtrack, and Brian is playing it loud.
We are endlessly grateful for the love, donations, and shares that continue to lift him. If you’ve already given, thank you. You are part of this fight. If you feel moved to give again, or to share this campaign, know that you are amplifying not just hope, but life, love, and music.
Brian’s fight is fierce.
Our love is louder.
And together, we are writing the song of his survival.
Thank you for standing in his crowd.
Brian Update - A Scare, A Recovery, and Hope Rising
This week wasn’t an easy one for Brian.
When he sat down for treatment on Monday, his body reacted almost immediately. One of those sudden, unmistakable “something isn’t right” moments. Things got tense for a bit, the medical team moved quickly, and it was scary in that way only health moments can be.
But the part that matters most?
Brian pulled through. He stabilized. And he’s feeling much better now.
We’re grateful for his strength, grateful for the care he received, and grateful he’s back on steadier ground after a really tough day.
And even after a week like that, the light ahead of him is bright:
Under Fallen Skies returns to the stage THIS Saturday!
Music is Brian’s heartbeat, and getting back in front of a crowd is the kind of energy that fuels him from the inside out.
Thanksgiving Eve: The Benefit for Brian at Dick’s Halfway Inn!
This event is shaping up to be something truly special.
Expect:
• Live music
• A 50/50
• Auctions
• A room full of people showing up loudly and lovingly for Brian
And for everyone asking how they can support him during weeks like this one…
Brian’s GoFundMe makes a real difference.
These unexpected medical scares, the kind that hit fast and take a toll, are heavy. Your support helps lift the weight and gives him space to breathe, heal, and keep pushing forward.
Brian’s fight is fierce. Our love is louder.
Thank you for standing with him.
Thank you for caring.
And thank you for helping Brian feel held, especially on the weeks he needs it most.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brian Winkelman
Beneficiary






