A GoFundMe campaign to raise $1 billion to build President Donald Trump ’s promised wall at the U.S.-Mexico border raised $1 million in two days and hit the $9 million mark on Thursday evening. More than 16,000 people helped it to the million-dollar mark on Wednesday, giving sums from $5 to four digits.

The fundraiser titled, “We The People Will Fund The Wall,” was created by Brian Kolfage, an Air Force veteran currently living in Florida who lost an arm and both his legs in a 2004 mortar attack in Iraq and who voted for Trump in 2016.

“As a veteran who has given so much, 3 limbs, I feel deeply invested to this nation to ensure future generations have everything we have today,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Too many Americans have been murdered by illegal aliens and too many illegals are taking advantage of the United States taxpayers with no means of ever contributing to our society.”

Kolfage isn’t new to the national spotlight. In 2012, he attended President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address as a special guest of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , D-Arizona.

In an interview with The San Diego Union-Tribune on Wednesday, he said his reason for setting up the fundraiser was simply because he felt like no one else was taking action and that Trump needed the help.

“I think we’ve been leaving it up to him and other people way too often, and nothing is getting done,” he said.

“I was frustrated and I think Americans are frustrated with the whole thing and politicians’ inaction,” he added. “Whether this is going to go through or not, it shows what Americans want and that they’re ready to put their money where their mouth is.”

He said he thinks the campaign has caught on with people because it gives them a sense of doing something.

“The everyday common person — they’re able to participate regardless of what politicians are doing,” Kolfage said.

He wanted to set the fundraising target at the $5 billion the president wants for the wall but GoFundMe has a limit that prevents any campaign from seeking that much. He set the target at $1 billion, but said hitting the $5 billion mark would be possible if every Trump voter — there were 62.9 million — gave $80 each.

Whether he raises that much or not, he said it’s still a valuable way to bring people together and also to show how strongly some people feel about building the wall.

“It shows that Americans can come together on something and it’s really the politicians who are dividing us for the most part,” he told the Union-Tribune.

Kolfage said that if the campaign doesn’t hit its $1 billion goal, “every single penny” would be refunded.

You can see the GoFundMe campaign here: gofundme.com/TheTrumpWall

Will you be contributing to this fundraiser? Tell us why in the comments below.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin