New Orleans-based guitarist and songwriter Spencer Bohren has been diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer and is seeking assistance as he faces mounting medical expenses.

Together with his wife, Marilyn, Bohren has launched a GoFundMe campaign. According to the couple, Spencer’s cancer has reached his bones, but they “have chosen a healing path that resonates with them, and by every indication Spencer is on his way to better health.” That healing path will be time consuming, forcing Spencer & The Whippersnappers to forego any touring (or income) in the foreseeable future.

“To help ease the financial pressure,” says the couple, “we have set up this GoFundMe site to accept donations to help them with daily living expenses as well as current and future medical bills while he navigates the journey toward health.”

Spencer Bohren’s cancer fund has reached over $16,000 of a $50,000 goal. Fans and loved ones can make donations by visiting the GoFundMe here.

In the wake of this diagnosis, the Bohrens have launched a personal-health blog. In its first post, Marilyn writes “As with everything else in his life, Spencer doesn’t just have cancer; he has stage IV prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. It is a big one, and It has our full attention, you can be sure.”

Spencer Bohren appeared on the October 2012 cover of OffBeat. In that story, he recalled his arrival in New Orleans from his Wyoming home. “When we first came here, the Beatles had erased the New Orleans R&B scene. There was no live music scene in New Orleans. The French Quarter had live music on Bourbon Street, then there was the Maple Leaf. Tipitina’s was just an idea. New Orleans was asleep. We fell in love with the vibe and the tropical identity, we just liked it.”