Influencer helps 88-year-old veteran raise over $1.7M for retirement
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More than $1.7 million has been raised to help an Army veteran with his retirement after his story went viral and GoFundMe garnered thousands of donations from strangers.
Australian social media phenomenon Sam Weidenhofer first learned about 88-year-old Edmund Bambas from a comment on one of his videos. Weidenhofer then teamed up with impressive Mike McKinstry to track down the veteran at the Meijer supermarket in Brighton, Michigan, where he worked. WXYZ Detroit reported.
“Can I ask how old you are?” Weidenhofer asks in the video.
“I’m 88 years old,” Bambas replies.
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More than $1.7 million has been raised to help an Army veteran with his retirement after his story went viral and GoFundMe garnered thousands of donations from strangers. (Mike McKinstry)
“Why do you have to keep working?” Weidenhofer asks.
Bambas, who served in the US Army in 1966, said he retired from General Motors in 1999, but everything changed when the automaker filed for bankruptcy years later.
“I retired from General Motors [1999]“They went bankrupt in 2012 and took away my pension,” says Bambas.
Gazi said that his financial situation worsened after his wife became seriously ill.
“The thing that upset me the most was that my wife was really sick, and when they took her pension, they took my health insurance and all but $10,000 of my life insurance,” Bambas said. “So I sold the house, sold the property I had, and we got through it.”
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Bambas’ wife died seven years ago, and he said he has been trying to stay afloat ever since. (Edmund Bambas)
Bambas’ wife died seven years ago, and he said he has been trying to stay afloat ever since.
“I work eight hours a day, five days a week,” Bambas said.
When asked what his dream would be, the veteran replied: “Somehow live the life I hope for.”
In the video, Bambas bursts into tears as Weidenhofer says he wants to help him and gives him a $400 tip.
“I don’t know what to say,” Bambas replies. “It will go a long way to help me.”
Weidenhofer later posted the video on social media and started a GoFundMe to support Bambas’ retirement.
As of Friday, the fundraiser had raised over $1.7 million thanks to more than 62,000 donations.
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As of Friday, the fundraiser had raised over $1.7 million thanks to more than 62,000 donations. (Edmund Bambas)
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“Despite it all, Ed shows up every day with quiet dignity, strength and perseverance,” the GoFundMe says. “His story is a stark reminder that so many of our seniors, especially our veterans, face incredible challenges just to survive. Every dollar we raise will go directly to support him: helping with living expenses, medical care, and the little joys that make life meaningful.”
A spokesperson for General Motors did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
