Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes uses autographs to aid medical bill fundraiser

June 26 (UPI) -- Pitcher Matt Barnes will mail an autographed item to one person for every $1,000 raised in a fund to pay the medical bills of his girlfriend's late father.

"Hey guys," the Boston Red Sox pitcher said on Twitter. "I never post things like this, but my girlfriend's father just passed away 3 weeks ago after an unexpected stroke and a short battle with cancer. On top of the unimaginable loss, her & her mom and now left with over $350,000 of medical bills. They need all the help they can get right now. In exchange for every $1k raised, I will personally mail an autographed item to one person."

The fund, in memory of Frank Zara, had raised $18,200 of its $25,000 goal on GoFundMe on Monday. Zara died May 27 after suffering a massive stroke at age 60. The Zara family was billed $234,989 for his 10-day hospital stay, according to the GoFundMe page.

"When we mentioned the idea of creating a GoFundMe page to the Zaras, they quickly declined," the page description says. "They continuously stated how uncomfortable they felt asking friends & family to assist them with their financial issues. But, after Chelsea had sent us pictures of the medical bills, we knew we had to do something."

Barnes, 27, was the No. 19 overall selection in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft. He has a 4.13 ERA and a 5-2 record in 34 games this season for the Red Sox.