A GoFundMe fundraiser created to help 81‑year‑old Donald Johnson of The Colony, Texas, pay his wife Josephine’s cancer treatment was removed this week after the platform found “factual misrepresentations” that violated its terms of service. The campaign, which had raised more than $200,000, was deactivated and all donors were refunded.
The fundraiser was launched after Erin Howell, a local resident, saw Johnson hauling heavy luggage for lost baggage deliveries. Howell described how Johnson, who began the job three years ago to support his wife’s medical expenses, had been exhausted and physically strained. She started the campaign to allow Johnson to stop working and focus on caring for Josephine, who has been battling cancer for years.
GoFundMe said its Trust & Safety team identified the misrepresentations and that the platform’s “Giving Guarantee” protects donors by providing full refunds when authenticity is not met. The company emphasized its priority of maintaining a safe and trusted environment for giving.
Before the deactivation, the fundraiser had attracted more than $281,000 in donations, according to Dallas station Fox 4. Johnson and his wife expressed deep gratitude for the support, noting that the funds would enable Johnson to stop working and devote his time to her care. The Independent has requested further details from GoFundMe regarding the specific misrepresentations that led to the removal of the page.
