Community rallies around Georgetown family, raises nearly $60K for teen’s bone cancer treatments

"If you know this family, you know that they have been such a special, loving part of their small Georgetown, MA community for the last 28 years," organizers behind the GoFundMe wrote.

Family, friends, and community members have raised nearly $60,000 on GoFundMe in recent months for a young Georgetown man who has been fighting bone cancer for close to two years.

Matthew Torgersen, a 2022 graduate of Georgetown High School, received the devastating diagnosis of osteosarcoma just two days before his senior prom, according to details shared on a verified GoFundMe page launched last year by family and friends of the Torgersens.

“If you know this family, you know that they have been such a special, loving part of their small Georgetown, MA community for the last 28 years,” the organizers wrote, noting that the family of five includes Matthew; his two brothers, Kyle and Joey; and his parents, Lisa and Joe.

“As you can imagine, this year has been excruciating for Matthew, his wonderful parents, and his loving brothers, Kyle and Joey, who haven’t left his side throughout his whole experience,” the organizers said.

Following extensive treatments, Torgersen, 19, had set out to start college at the University of New Hampshire this past fall, but received “heartbreaking news that the cancer had spread to his lungs” just three days before planned to arrive at school, the GoFundMe noted.

Since his diagnosis nearly two years ago, Torgersen has endured shoulder removal and replacement, extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, lung surgeries, and an array of medications and other remedies – all with the goal of curing his cancer.

In high school, Torgersen stood out as a leader on his varsity basketball team, while also working in his free time to help young basketball players develop their skills both on and off the court, per the GoFundMe.

“Matthew’s passion and dedication to his education and his athletic career is something that has always been such a big part of who he is,” the page noted.

Last week, organizers of the fundraising page provided an update from Torgersen’s aunt, who shared that the family just “returned home with disappointing results” following a two-month stay in California for chemotherapy.

“The tumor has progressed and Matthew has decided to discontinue conventional medicines,” Torgersen’s aunt wrote. “With the help of his family and unparalleled effort from his mom, Matty continues to fight this battle through holistic treatments and cancer fighting foods Lisa has consistently provided Matthew. Lisa has researched tirelessly and left no stone unturned to find the best and most promising means available for Matthew.

“Unfortunately these treatments are not covered by insurance and they are spending over $3000/month for alternative therapies, etc.,” she continued. “This expense paired with Lisa’s current inability to work outside the home has proven to be a tremendous financial burden for the Torgersens.”

A link to the fundraiser can be found below. For those who are unable to help financially, “any and all prayers for a blessed miracle are needed and welcomed,” the boy’s aunt added.