It’s been a great month for Randy Edwards.

The 58-year-old has been overwhelmed by the public response to his request for money to fund his kidney transplant.

Family, friends and strangers have contributed $26,000 towards the necessary operation.

HIP has also promised to help, cutting into the $400,000 bill Mr Edwards anticipated he’d have to pay.

“Since The Royal Gazette article, HIP reached out to say that they can cover up to $100,000 if he goes through Lahey Hospital in Burlington, Massachusetts,” said his daughter, Gayneté. “He could also go to Johns Hopkins. He was previously advised they didn’t cover anything overseas and he would need to borrow from the LCCA.”

Mr Edwards went on dialysis three years ago after doctors removed one kidney because of a tumour and then found he had chronic kidney disease.

His daughter offered her kidney as a replacement, however Mr Edwards thought his insurance wouldn’t cover his part of the surgery.

The pair were initially planning to go to Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston for the operation. The estimated out-of-pocket cost was $400,000.

King Edward VII Memorial Hospital is now arranging his Lahey appointment.

“We await a quote from Lahey that’ll allow him to better determine if he’ll need more but for now $100,000 seems to be a good target,” said Ms Edwards. “We’ve heard it’s cheaper than Brigham & Women’s.”

Several people have stepped up to help since last month’s Lifestyle article.

“People just come up to me in the street with money,” said Mr Edwards, a shoe salesman. “It is amazing and I appreciate everything. My initial kidney surgery was done at Lahey so I feel more comfortable going there anyway. We already know a lot of the doctors and nurses.”

Ms Edwards set up the fundraising campaign for her father and said she’d learnt a lot from the experience.

“The community spirit has been amazing,” she said. “When you reach out you get the assistance. They say a closed mouth doesn’t get fed. If you do turn around and ask a lot of people willingly give.”

Rosa’s Cantina and sister restaurant Chopstix Fusion raised more than $10,000 for Mr Edwards by offering a speciality drink.

Rosa’s manager Lindsay Durham read about Mr Edwards’s plight on Facebook. She donated $50 to a crowdfunding page, but wanted to do more.

“I ran to our office and to the owners, Pam Quarterly, her son David, and the other manager, Kara Simmons,” said Ms Durham. “I asked them why don’t we come up with a cocktail, and 100 per cent of the funds can go to Gayneté’s father for his treatment.”

Her boss thought they’d raise only a small amount; Ms Durham was determined to raise a lot.

“I wanted to raise $20,000,” she said. “Instead, we raised $10,023.69 by selling special cocktails. People also put more than $600 in our tip jar.”

Ms Quarterly said the company likes to be a good corporate citizen.

“One night a man came up to us and started reading a flyer about Mr Edwards,” she said. “He gave us $50, and said he knew exactly what Mr Edwards was going through.

“He and his wife were just leaving Bermuda at the end of June for her to have her third kidney transplant.”

Mr Edwards said he and his daughter were “overwhelmed” by the support.

“I didn’t expect them to go out of their way to do something like this to help, it’s amazing,” he said.

“I’m surprised knowing that people would actually go down there and buy the drink for me. For that, I am very thankful.”

The Edwards also raised $5,000 through a pot luck dinner, $5,800 through their crowdfunding page and $800 at a yoga event.

They’re hoping to double the funds with a golf tournament in September.

“We will be looking to attract corporate involvement as well as individuals,” said Ms Edwards. “All of the proceeds from the tournament will go to my dad.”

Ironically, Mr Edwards said he doesn’t actually play golf.

“I’ll be there, but I will be watching from the sidelines,” he said.

He said the first thing he planned to eat after the transplant was a banana split.

He’s been on a special diet since he started dialysis three years ago and bananas are a no-no.

“I’d also like to drink as much water as I like,” he said. “With kidney failure your water intake is limited.”

• For more information e-mail akidneyfordaddy@gmail.com or visit www.gofundme.com/mydaddyneedathis