David Roach, the longtime frontman of Junkyard, just found himself in the middle of the hardest fight of his life.
He was told on June 24 that he had an aggressive form of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma. It’s already spread to his head, neck, and throat.
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The news hit hard. Now he needs care around the clock.
He’s been rocking with Junkyard for a long time
David’s been the lead singer of Junkyard for over 30 years. It’s been his whole world.
Now, things have taken a scary turn, and that long career is being put on pause while he focuses on staying alive.
The band broke the news to fans first
Back in January, Junkyard posted the heartbreaking news on Instagram.
The post read in part: “We all know and love David Roach – not just as our incredible singer, but as a true friend, an inspiration, and a fighter. Right now, he’s facing one of the toughest battles of his life: an aggressive cancer diagnosis.”
They let fans know what was going on and how serious things had gotten.
Everyone’s been asked to chip in however they can
“To help with the overwhelming medical expenses David is selling his plaque art. Every purchase, share, and donation can make a real difference in getting him the care he needs.
“If you can contribute in any way – whether by buying his art, picking up some merch, or simply spreading the word – it would mean the world.”
A random symptom sent him to the ER
Months after getting diagnosed, something didn’t feel right. He had a fever and a cough that just wouldn’t go away.
That’s what ended up sending him to the ER. And what they found there made everything even worse.
“After David’s ongoing fever and cough led us to the ER, we got results that have completely shattered our world. It’s devastating and life-altering, and we’re trying to navigate through the emotions and uncertainty that come with it.”
He and Jennifer are overwhelmed by the love
His fiancée, Jennifer, has been by his side through it all. Together, they shared an update with fans.
“First off, we want to thank you all for the overwhelming support and love you’ve shown us during this incredibly challenging time,” the post, credited to Roach and his fiancée Jennifer, read.
“We wish we could respond to each of you, but honestly, there are no words right now. We’re still struggling to process the news we received on Tuesday.”
They’re holding on, but you can feel the weight of everything they’re going through.
David is still pushing through with strength
Even in the middle of all this, he hasn’t lost his spirit.
“David is showing such incredible strength and resilience, and even in the midst of this darkness, he’s still managing to keep his sense of humor. It’s a reminder of how amazing he is.
“But we know this journey ahead will be extremely tough, David made it clear he is not giving up hope and we’re going to need all of your love and prayers.”
Jennifer had to quit work to take care of him full-time
Things got so serious that Jennifer had to step away from her job. She’s now taking care of him every day.
A GoFundMe was started to help them get by, and it described David as someone with a “knack for making people feel special and appreciated.”
The bills are piling up fast
“Right now, though, David is in a serious situation. The financial strain from medical expenses and daily living costs is piling up, and he’s struggling to keep a roof over his head without any income while fighting this cancer,” the page notes.
So besides fighting for his life, he’s also having to fight to keep his home and cover the basics.