STOCKERTOWN, Pa. — A homegrown fundraising effort nearly doubled the original goal to help the family of one of the people behind a beloved Nazareth-area Detroit pizza place.
According to a GoFundMe post, The GOAT Pub & Pie co-owner Tim Cosover is fighting severe pneumonia and septic shock while on a ventilator in an intensive care unit.
At the same time, Cosover's wife, Casey Pollard, has been battling breast cancer.
With two special needs children to care for, the family is an in incredibly difficult position, according to the GoFundMe post.
“Their medical bills are starting to mount, and we hope the donations we collect here will give them some peace of mind. We'd also love to be able to provide some respite care for their children as both parents get their strength back.”Kristin Kanzer, Tim Cosover’s sister, in a GoFundMe post
But thanks to the work of Kristin Kanzer, Cosover’s sister, the family isn’t fighting the battle alone.
“We're setting up this GoFundMe because we have been blessed to have so many people ask what they can do, and we feel the best way to help is to give them some breathing room as they recover,” Kanzer stated in the fundraising post.
“Their medical bills are starting to mount, and we hope the donations we collect here will give them some peace of mind. We'd also love to be able to provide some respite care for their children as both parents get their strength back.”
With an original goal of $10,000, as of Monday afternoon, the fundraiser had accrued more than $20,000.
Words of support
Words of support have also flooded the page, alongside hundreds of dollars in individual donations — and an anonymous top contribution marked at $1,000.
Fellow business owners, neighbors and fans of The GOAT are cheering on the family.
“All our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” Kayla Martin, who contributed $250, said.Kayla Martin, GoFundMe contributed $250
“Prayers are sent from Monster’s Pizzeria & Deli,” Brian Truppi, who sent $100, said.
“All our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery,” Kayla Martin, who contributed $250, said.
The total continues to grow by the minute, with another few hundred dollars popping up each time the page is refreshed.
All money raised will go directly to the family to assist in its time of need, Kanzer stated on the post.
The GOAT Pub & Pie — “GOAT” stands for “Greatest of All Taverns” — opened in January 2021. Cosover and his brother Matt, along with Sam Ashton and Jonathan Quayle, launched their own operation when they found themselves jobless in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ever since, the place has become synonymous with its distinct Detroit pizza — pies baked in square pans that feature caramelized cheese and the signature crispy, golden crust — and classic pub fare.
Ingredients such as house made marinara and fresh Italian sausage from Giacomo’s have made the restaurant's seven staple pies — including its specialty Pie of the Month — one of the most celebrated pizza places in the Lehigh Valley.
