It’s not usually a life-changing experience to go on a yard sale stroll. It was, however, for three men from Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
When a Navy veteran was showing his wares to Ed Sheets and David Dunkleberger, he began telling them an experience.
However, Dunkleberger and Sheets just might have brought some calm into the life of a dying man with the help of strangers.
“I’m looking to sell all my stuff so I can pay or a funeral”
The two men chose out a few treasures and paid Willie Davis, the homeowner, for them on that fateful day last month.
The two men agreed to help publicize Will’s weekly yard sales and asked if they could start a lawn sale on his behalf.
He said, “If you know anyone else who might be interested I’m looking to sell all my stuff so I can pay for a funeral”
The men said, “Whose”
“Mine,” he stated.
Jacklyn L. Davis, a 66-year-old Vietnam War veteran and Navy sailor who was active from 1970 to 1976, has been diagnosed with late-stage squamous cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma, which is a prevalent form of skin cancer, causes 15,000 fatalities each year in the United States. According to Davis, his illness was terminal and the only thing he wanted was to fund his burial.
Even though he wasn’t scared of his disease, he was apprehensive about remaining in the hospital for an extended period of time because he wouldn’t be able to sell his items on weekends. He wasted nothing except for being buried alongside his parents in a cemetery in Culpepper, Virginia. That aim, however, appeared unattainable.
“I’m really going to miss life because of people like that”
According to Sheet, he was devastated when he heard about Davis’s tale, and he felt compelled to do something.
“He has already done enough to serve the country, so we just wanted to return the favor to him so that at least, his last days can be a little less hectic and more peaceful for him,” Sheets stated.
The two men established a fundraising website for Davis with the goal of raising $5,000 to pay for his burial expenses.
The page stated, “We have all thought our lives were bad, and we are going through some rough times. But imagine having to worry about being able to sell all your belongings just before you die, just so you will be able to get buried next to your parents”
The goal was eventually increased to $15,000 (considering funerals might be costly), but online supporters were able to do so very quickly.
Now, the campaign has raised approximately $27,000 thanks to all of your help. The new objective is now $40,000, in accordance with Davis’s wishes. Any money that isn’t used for the funeral will be donated to charity to assist struggling veterans like him.
The Tribute-Democrat asked David how much assistance he had gotten, and he responded, “I honestly never expected that someone will come along like this. The guys went way beyond what I ever expected”
In fact, before his burial expenses were covered, when they had only $475, David made a remark.
“These people are willing to help anyone. I’m really going to miss life because of people like that”
