Save Rob's Mind And Memories Before Time Runs Out

A lifelong artist, advocate, and storyteller is now racing against a rare and unforgiving illness.

Hello, my name is Robert Layne Renfro Jr., and I’m a 54-year-old writer, musician, and actor. Over the decades, I’ve dedicated my life to art, advocacy, and compassion, not for profit, not for fame, but because it’s who I am.

Now, I’m fighting against a reality that is stealing those very parts of me. I’ve been diagnosed with multiple degenerative and neurological conditions, among them:

 Small Cell Disease (a precursor to vascular dementia) , Severe brain atrophy and volume loss (linked to early onset Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s).c Non-malignant but aggressive brain tumors (including one in my cervical spine). Tumors affecting spinal segments C2, C4, and C5v. Spinal stenosis and compression-related pain. Every day, these conditions chip away at the memories, words, music, and identity that define me. And yet, I’m still here, still fighting, still creating.

MY MISSION NOW IS SIMPLE BUT URGENT:

Finish the creative work I’ve started, give back what I still can, and leave behind a legacy that might inspire others before the silence takes over.

WHY I’M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP

I'm seeking to raise $50,000 to support medical needs, complete several creative projects, and preserve my work for the people who may one day need it just like I once did.

Your support will help me:

CONTINUE CREATING:

Publish a graphic novel, an anthology covering my 30 years in the music business. Finish a deeply personal book honoring my mother’s battle with cancer.

Finalize multiple scripts and screenplays I’ve conceptualized,

Secure essential software for music and script production

MANAGE MY HEALTH

Afford ongoing treatment and monitoring of my neurological and spinal conditions.

Pay for life-saving medications, including therapies

Undergo necessary dental surgery for health and quality of life

SHARE WHAT I’VE LEARNED

Offer free resources and emotional support, including a fundraising how-to guide I created

Distributed the anti–date rape song I co-wrote and had performed by Rose Valdez, which was shared with college radio stations across the country to raise awareness, not profit

Tell the stories of two strangers I helped talk down from suicide, simply by being present, listening, and connecting them to the care they needed

Share my poetry, music, and lessons from a life lived with heart, risk, and resilience.

A LIFE OF GIVING, NOW ASKING

I’ve never been afraid to give, even when I had little. I’ve organized fundraisers for people I didn’t know, hosted events, supported other artists, and answered calls for help without hesitation.

Now, for the first time, I’m asking the world to help me tell my story before I lose the ability to do so.

This campaign isn’t about ego or comfort. It’s about urgency. It’s about finishing what matters. It’s about leaving something behind, not for me, but for those who believe that art, kindness, and connection can change lives.

WHAT YOU’RE SUPPORTING

You’re not just helping me afford treatments or publish stories.

You’re helping a man preserve his identity before a disease takes it away.

You’re helping me give back while I still can.

You’re saying, "Your story matters," and that means everything.

Please donate what you can

Share this with someone who believes in legacy and love

Be part of my story before the final page turns

With deep gratitude,

Robert Layne Renfro Jr.