“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Julie Goldman, Rothman’s sister.

Her daughter, Marissa Goldman, was the one who set up the GoFundMe.com campaign that separately raised more than $15,000 for her uncle.

“The GoFundMe page blew up so fast,” she said. “Donations hit $5,000 in one day.”

Julie Goldman said that seeing the crowds at Skippy’s made her feel proud of his brother.

“He saw his dream and he went for it. He has something so special here,” she said.

‘He’s soldiering on’

Edward Rothman said by telephone from Pennsylvania that his son is showing some progress, but that he has a long road ahead. He said that doctors probably will start Mike Rothman’s chemotherapy and radiation treatment this week.

“Mike has his ups and downs,” his father said. “His mind is fine, but the physical therapy is tiring.”

It has been a big adjustment and a lot to take in, Rothman said.