The Tear-Jerking Story of How a Man Helped His Dying Uber Driver

When Roland Gainer requested an Uber a few weeks ago, he didn't expect the experience to change his life; but during his 12-minute ride, the young man was moved to action by his driver's story. While driving Gainer to his destination, 69-year-old Ken Broskey shared that he was dying of stage four oropharyngeal cancer . . . but instead of living out the rest of his days in hospice care, the terminally ill man began driving for Uber as a second job.

Concerned for his daughter and grandchildren, who live with him in his Livonia, MI, home, Broskey sought extra work in hopes of paying off his $95,000 mortgage. "His doctors have advised him to go to hospice, but instead he continues to work, trying to make as much money as possible so that when he dies, his daughter and her two children can continue to live in the house they now share with him," wrote Gainer on the GoFundMe page that he launched to help Broskey pay off the mortgage. "As a single mother and waitress, he knows that things will be hard without him and like any good father or grandfather, he worries about and wants to protect and provide for his family."

Thanks to that GoFundMe campaign, more than $102,000 has been raised by over 3,7000 generous donors to help Broskey pay off his home. In addition, Uber created a promotion to donate $1 per Detroit-area ride toward the terminally ill employee's cause. "Ken is an inspiring human being. Here you have a 69-year-old grandfather who is facing one of life's darkest moments and he's not giving up," said the company spokesperson. "He's serving the community, fighting for his family, and battling cancer. He's an inspiring man."

Roland Gainer, whose mother fought her own battle with cancer while he was still in school, thanked the community for their generosity and promised to keep them up to date with Ken's condition. Thanks to Gainer's crowdfunding efforts, the grandfather has retired from Uber, living the rest of his days surrounded by the family that he worked so hard to provide for.

The next time you request an Uber or Lyft, strike up a conversation with your driver. Who knows where it may lead?