News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Friends Together founder Judy Burns on Tuesday looks at the people from the area who participated in the Our People Need Your People campaign that helped to raise money for the cancer organization. Local fundraising efforts and an anonymous donation for $50,000 will help expand Friends Together Services.

ALPENA — It took less than a month for Friends Together to raise well more than the $50,000 it needed to match the same amount from an anonymous donor.

As of Tuesday, Friends Together founder Judy Burns said the group had raised nearly $80,000 so far this month, which means the organization will receive in excess of $130,000 when the money from the donor is included.

The group that supports cancer patients, those in recovery, and others will continue to raise money for the remainder of the month, so that total will continue to climb, Burns said.

The unknown donor came forward last month and pledged $30,000 if the nonprofit could raise the same by the end of October. When the group raised that amount quickly, the donor raised the pledge to $50,000 if Friends Together could match that.

Burns said seeing the community rally to support Friends Together warms her heart and shows the amount of faith the community has in the group.

“I think this validates the good work we do, and more people have learned about us during the campaign,” Burns said. “This is more than a dream come true, and it has kind of left me and the donor speechless.”

Burns said the money could be used to acquire more vehicles to help transport people to doctor appointments out of town and to support the transportation program as a whole. She said a portion of the money may also be used to help fill staffing needs and to expand programs and services in other areas in Northeast Michigan outside of Alpena.

Friends Together was established in 1996 after Burns’ daughter, Dawn, died in 1995. Burns promised her daughter that no one would face cancer alone as they did. Since then, the organization has proven a critical resource for people who have cancer, as well as those close to them.

Burns said the final total will be revealed sometime in early November, but she will continue to provide frequent updates on a large sign outside the Friends Together office.