MERIDIAN - Members of the community chipped in thousands of dollars Wednesday night, trying to help pay for Ryan Stockdale's deep brain stimulation.

The Middleton father of four was turned down by former employer Omnipure Monday, who said it would not pay for the expensive experimental procedure.

Stockdale suffers from debilitating cluster headaches that have left him incapacitated for almost a year.

Impact Radio Group, owner of Boise-area radio stations like Wild 101.1 and True Oldies 99.1, heard about Ryan's misfortune and decided to help by hosting a fundraiser in the parking lot of Syringa bank off Franklin and Eagle. Their goal was to raise $80,000. The effort had netted $30,500 by 5 p.m. Wednesday night.

The community may be eager to help pay for the surgery, but would a government-run health plan do the same?

John Foster, a spokesman for Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick, says concern that people might not be able to get expensive or experimental procedures has scared a lot of people from supporting a public health option. Foster says Minnick doesn't support a government-run health insurance plan, but is pushing hard to reform the health care system.