Friends and family set up a GoFundMe to help Eric Dane’s teenage daughters after his public fight with ALS and his death; Rebecca Gayheart shares candid reflections on caregiving and family life
Overview
Actor Eric Dane died after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the wake of his death, friends, colleagues and members of the entertainment community rallied to support his family—especially his two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia—by raising funds and coordinating practical help.
The fundraiser
Close friends launched a GoFundMe to cover immediate living expenses and help the family transition to longer-term financial stability. The campaign, which set a $250,000 goal, has drawn quick early donations and offers of hands-on support: meal trains, childcare, and other neighborhood-level assistance alongside monetary gifts. Organizers say the money will go toward daily needs, schooling and unforeseen costs that follow a high‑need medical journey.
Rebecca Gayheart’s account
Co-parent Rebecca Gayheart published a candid, first-person essay about life after an ALS diagnosis. She walks readers through the wrenching moment of diagnosis, the household changes that followed, and the constant juggling of caregiving, medical appointments and insurance battles. Her writing puts practical detail—scheduling nurses, coordinating specialists, finding reliable help—next to the emotional work of explaining the illness to their daughters and preparing them for an uncertain future.
Caregiving realities
Gayheart describes how quickly routines must be reinvented when a partner’s abilities shift: coordination and balance issues that first appeared on a family trip, the struggle to secure around‑the‑clock nursing, and the fatigue of navigating denials from insurers. Community members from the ALS world and friends stepped in to help, offering both expertise and emotional steadiness. Therapists helped the family decide to be open with Billie and Georgia, a choice meant to reduce confusion and support healthy grieving.
Practical and emotional consequences
The campaign is designed to convert public sympathy into tangible security: paying for day‑to‑day care, keeping the household stable, covering education and meeting future needs. Beyond money, the effort underscores how illness stretches a family’s roles—parents become advocates, friends become caregivers, and everyday logistics turn into full‑time work. The broad response so far reflects both personal loyalty and the public’s desire to honor Dane’s advocacy on behalf of the ALS community.
Legacy and ongoing needs
Dane used his platform to raise awareness for ALS before his death, and supporters say honoring that work is part of why they’ve stepped up. The fundraising and volunteer efforts aim not only to replace lost income but to create a safety net for Billie and Georgia as they grow up. Organizers continue to post updates on the campaign page, and those who want to help can find details there.
If you’d like to contribute or learn more, check the GoFundMe page for the latest updates and specific ways to offer support—financial or practical.