THOUSANDS of dollars have been raised to help friends and family keep searching for missing Ballarat man Jason Richards in the South Australian outback.One of the administrators of the Missing: Jason Richards Facebook page has established the Jason Richards Search Fund at online donation page www.gofundme.comIt has raised about $2000.Bec Vermeend said the response to the search fund had been amazing."People from all over Australia have donated; everyone has been so generous — it just blows my mind."She said the donations so far had come from across Australia and even from the UK."Even if it's people just donating $5, it all adds up."Ms Vermeend said the search group had been staying "wherever they can", including at a roadhouse at Pimba, near where Mr Richards' boat was found back on June 24."It would be really good if we could raise enough money so they could stay a bit closer to where the search area is," she said."They (the search party) relied on their own money to start with, but that only stretches so far.""They're hoping to hire their own aircraft to keep searching from the air."She said donations to the search fund will go towards petrol, food and accommodation for the team of searchers, which includes Mr Richards' partner Jessie Laidlaw, mother Yvonne Richards and brother David Richards.Ms Vermeend said she was amazed by the efforts of the local search party, which includes Mr Richards' best mate, Scott Davis."Scott actually went out on his own straight away, then came back and got Dave (Richards) and the others and has been out there ever since," she said."He's been incredible, I don't know how he keeps going."Family members have been calling friends back in Ballarat with regular updates on their progress.Friend Kristy Murnane said Mr Richards' partner, Jessie, has told her she is overwhelmed by the vast size of the search area."Jess says she can't believe how big it is out there," Ms Murnane said."The whole thing really is heartbreaking for everyone, especially the kids."Click here to access the Jason Richards search fund, to raise money for the search team