Thousands of dollars were raised in just 16 hours in support of the Launceston teen and his family – a huge help in supporting the Gilmores to spend months in Melbourne with Zack as he underwent treatment.

But far from the church fetes, bake sales and football club fundraisers of years past, the money was raised online and donated by people from throughout Australia eager to support a family in need.

Crowdfunding websites predict a surge in people fundraising in support of their medical expenses as awareness of the medium grows.

OzCrowd founder Nick Karolidis said medical fundraisers were the most popular on his Australian website.

“The only time they don’t (do well) is when people put them up and just leave them there and don’t try to market it,” he said.

“Those who share it on social media with their friends and family members, it’s a quite successful way and effective.”

#ZacksOnTrack, a GoFundMe campaign from cyclist and Gilmore family friend Wes Sulzberger, raised $10,500 and was shared more than 750 times on Facebook.

Zack’s father Matthew said the value of the campaign was not just financial.

“Zack could visibly see the support there for him and that really helped too, knowing there was so much community support through GoFundMe and the school (Riverside High School),” Mr Gilmore said.

“For (wife) Andrea and myself, it was quite overwhelming and emotional to think people think so much of Zack they would do that.”

University of Tasmania sociology lecturer Nicholas Hookway said crowdfunding for medical expenses raised some questions – and concerns.

“More and more the responsibility for our health and well-being is placed on the individual’s shoulder,” he said.

“Not everyone is able to respond to the health crises they face.

“You’re relying on the individual and a willingness to give rather than a strong health system or governments.

“Is this potentially going to replace a good healthcare system and does it create new health inequality and disparity?”

Zack is now in remission, attending school and back on his beloved bike.

For the Gilmores, the obvious display of support was a much-needed positive during a terrible time in their lives.

”It’s certainly not something that we thought of doing but at the same time we felt so much support through it,” Mr Gilmore said.