88-year-old Army veteran working at grocery store receives over $1.7M in donations after viral video

More than $1.7 cardinal has been raised to assistance an Army seasoned discontinue aft his communicative went viral online and a GoFundMe drew thousands of donations from strangers.

Australian societal media influencer Sam Weidenhofer archetypal learned astir Edmund Bambas, 88, from a remark connected 1 of his videos. Weidenhofer past worked with influencer Mike McKinstry to way the seasoned down astatine the Meijer supermarket successful Brighton, Michigan, wherever helium works, WXYZ Detroit reported.

"May I inquire however aged you are?" Weidenhofer asks successful the video.

"I'm 88 years old," Bambas responds.

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More than $1.7 cardinal has been raised to assistance an Army seasoned discontinue aft his communicative went viral online and a GoFundMe drew thousands of donations from strangers. (Mike McKinstry)

"Why bash you person to support working?" Weidenhofer asks.

Bambas, who served successful the U.S. Army successful 1966, explained that helium retired from General Motors successful 1999 but said everything changed erstwhile the automaker filed for bankruptcy years later. 

"I retired from General Motors successful [1999]," Bambas says. "In 2012, they went bankrupt, and they took my pension distant from me."

The seasoned said his fiscal concern worsened erstwhile his woman became earnestly ill.

"The happening that wounded maine the astir was my woman was existent sick, and erstwhile they took the pension, they besides took the wellness attraction sum and each but $10,000 of my beingness insurance," Bambas said, "So I sold the house, sold the spot I had, and we made it through."

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Bambas' woman died 7 years ago, and helium said helium has been trying to enactment afloat ever since. (Edmund Bambas )

Bambas' woman died 7 years ago, and helium said helium has been trying to enactment afloat ever since.

"I enactment 5 days a week, 8 hours a day," Bambas said.

When asked what his imagination would be, the seasoned answered: "Live somewhat the beingness I was hoping for."

In the video, Bambas breaks down successful tears arsenic Weidenhofer tells him helium wants to assistance and hands him a $400 tip.

"I don't cognize what to say," Bambas responds. "It's going to spell a agelong mode to assistance me."

Weidenhofer aboriginal posted the video to societal media and launched a GoFundMe to enactment Bambas’ retirement. 

As of Friday, the fundraiser has raised implicit $1.7 million, driven by much than 62,000 donations.

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As of Friday, the fundraiser has raised implicit $1.7 million, driven by much than 62,000 donations. (Edmund Bambas)

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"Despite everything, Ed shows up each time with quiescent dignity, strength, and perseverance," the GoFundMe states. "His communicative is simply a stark reminder that excessively galore of our seniors, particularly veterans look unthinkable challenges conscionable to survive. … Every dollar we rise volition spell straight to supporting him: helping with surviving expenses, aesculapian care, and the tiny joys that marque beingness meaningful."

A spokesperson for General Motors did not instantly respond to Fox News Digital's petition for comment.