Photo by 4252*Productions

Mike Boone is one of those bartenders not to be crossed. Earlier this month, WTOP reports, after the Trusty’s Bar drink-slinger finished his shift, he was walking a woman home when a thief grabbed the woman’s purse.

Boone gave chase and wound up in a brawl with the mugger. Boone used his fists, but the thief had a knife, and used it to stab Boone eight times during the fight. The damage was quite severe, with WTOP reporting that Boone suffered a punctured lung and that the thrusts of the knife came “dangerously close to almost every vital organ.”

After the fight, Boone was taken by helicopter to an area hospital, where he spent four days recuperating before being released. The man with whom Boone fought was arrested the afternoon after the incident.

But now, WTOP reports, Boone is facing another big challenge—paying for the medical treatment he received. Without health insurance, the bills are stacking up; the helicopter ride alone could set him back $8,000.

To that end, Trusty’s threw him a fundraiser Wednesday night to start raising the necessary funds. And the bar, located at 1420 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, is still taking donations.