Balgarianovinite.com
An 88-year-old army veteran received the surprise of a lifetime from strangers around the world thanks to a viral TikTok video that raised $1.8 million for him.
The video was recorded and shared by Australian “positivity influencer” Sam Wetenhoeffer, who was on what he called a “US Kindness Tour” through the Christmas holiday.
Wetenhoeffer met Ed Bambas from Michigan, who was working the checkout line at a Meijer supermarket. When asked why Bambas was still working at 88 years old, he said he had no choice but to work full-time as a cashier to make ends meet after losing his pension.
The two struck up a rapport, with Ed explaining that his wife died seven years ago and he was still trying to pick up the pieces.
“I work five days a week, eight hours a day,” Bambas said, “because I don’t have enough income.”
When Weidenhofer asked Bambas, “What’s your dream?” the octogenarian answered, “Live a little of somewhat the life I was hoping for.”
Wetenhoeffer posted the video to TikTok, who said it was viewed more than 10 million times. The influencer then set up a GoFundMe page for Bambas.
“I want to introduce you all to Ed Bambas, a man I met recently in a Detroit supermarket who completely humbled me,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Ed is 88 years old, an Army veteran, and he still works five days a week, eight hours a day. He has never received the pension he earned after a lifetime of hard work, and he lost his wife years ago.”
Wetenhoeffer reported that the donations came pouring in, to the tune of nearly $1.8 million, making it one of the largest individual fundraisers in GoFundMe history.
“If you want, you will be able to retire,” Wetenhoeffer said when presenting the check to a stunned Bambas.
“I wish my wife were here, but it’s something that dreams are made out of, trust me, from my beginnings to here,” he said.
Watch above via CNN.
The post Retirement Now Possible For 88-Year-Old Army Vet After Influencer Surprises Him With Huge Check first appeared on Mediaite.
Retirement Now Possible For 88-Year-Old Army Vet After Influencer Surprises Him With Huge Check 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-12-06 23:02:26 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
