ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – Owners of a new restaurant in Atlantic Beach raised money Sunday morning to help their friend who was just diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer.
EggBoy, a breakfast gourmet breakfast sandwich and specialty coffee restaurant, had a soft opening Tuesday.
But when the owners, Nick and Zach Presti heard about their long-time friend Taylor Rossmoore’s cancer diagnosis they instantly felt like they had to do something to help him and his family. So, they decided to use their recently opened restaurant to raise funds for him and his medical expenses.
“There’s no better timing and no better place than to kind of get the get some funds rolling for the things he’s going to encounter over the next nine weeks,” Nick said.
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Rossmoore was just diagnosed with Oligodendroglioma, a rare form of brain cancer that currently has no cure. According to the National Cancer Institute, close to 15,000 people in the United States have this form of cancer.
“So it is tough. But, you know, some of the doctors that we have spoken to, since being young, there’s a better prognosis,” Rossmoore said.
Rossmoore and his wife, Madison, have an adorable 17-month-old daughter, Noah.
Rossmoore said what Nick and Zach are doing to help him “tugs at the heartstrings.”
“It means the world to me,” Rossmoore said. “And I can’t say enough about, you know, Nick and Zach, that they’re two of the best guys that I’ve known. And it’s just honestly incredible what they’ve done for me, my community, my family.”
It was a full house Sunday morning at EggBoy. While the owners didn’t have a set goal, they said they hoped to raise around $5,000 for Rossmoore.
“A day of the money in here is nothing compared to what he’s about to face, so I think just to get them off on the right start and make an impact, is kind of the best way to do it,” Nick said.
Meanwhile, Rossmoore said he will not give up, especially after knowing that he has the support of not only his family and friends — but the whole community.
“My fight doesn’t stop. You know, there’s a testimony that I have, and I hope that they allow me to give it in,” Rossmoore said. “It just, you know almost makes me cry every time that I hear the support that they have for me, not just for me, but the community that’s around Jacksonville,” Rossmoore said.
Below is the updated link to the GoFundMe account for Rossmoore and his family:
The Rossmoore family also opened a GoFundMe account to help cover medical bills.