Hi, my name is Becca, and I am the daughter of Fred Worley.

I’m creating this fundraiser quietly and with love—because my dad has no idea, we’re doing this. If he did, he would never ask for help for himself. He would insist the money go to someone else, especially disabled veterans he believes are less fortunate than he is.

My parents have been planning for months since he has been diagnosed because they never wanted their children to feel burdened by expenses. So, I created this GoFundMe as a way for our family, friends, and community to support them without adding to their worries.

My dad is a disabled veteran, a lifelong provider, and a man who has spent his entire life serving his country, his family, and his community. He and my mom raised eight children together but their love didn’t stop there. Over the years, they opened their home to countless friends, neighbors, and loved ones, treating everyone who walked through their door as family. They taught us, by example, what unconditional love truly looks like.

Anyone who knows my dad knows how much joy he found in the simple things especially basketball. He never missed a chance to cheer on the University of Tennessee Volunteers, proudly wearing his orange and celebrating every win (and suffering every loss) with the same loyalty and heart he showed in every part of his life. Even as his health declined, talking about the Vols or catching a game on TV could still make him smile on the hardest days.

For years, my dad raised money for disabled veterans at our local Walmart, in parades, and at community events—often standing outside for hours, no matter the weather, to make sure others were taken care of. When standing became too difficult, he didn’t stop. He drove himself and used a scooter so he could keep showing up, because he believed deeply in the importance of the work. He continued faithfully until he began radiation treatment for cancer, and as a result he has been bedridden since August.

When he came home from the hospital, the local DAV Chapter 39 surprised him with a lifetime achievement award (the photo of him with the eagle) for his years of service—an honor he never expected, but one he truly earned. His health has declined significantly, and the time we have left is limited, but his heart for others has never changed.

The primary purpose of this fundraiser is to cover my father’s final expenses, giving him peace of mind knowing those arrangements are taken care of. Just as important to me is ensuring that a meaningful donation can be made to Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 39 allowing my dad to continue supporting disabled veterans even after he is gone.

More than anything, I want my dad to know that his life has mattered. That raising eight children—and loving so many more as if they were his own—mattered. That every dollar he collected, every hour he stood outside in the heat or cold, every act of kindness mattered. I want him to feel, in whatever time he has left, that people have noticed his goodness, his service, and his heart. And that the difference he made in the lives of others is now coming back to him in love and support.

Thank you for being here, for reading our story, and for helping me honor my father in the most meaningful way I know how.

— Becca