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A Bellevue veteran received a surprise visit from Australian “kindness creator” Samuel Weidenhofer on Saturday as part of a campaign to help veterans in all 50 states. Alex Woelich nominated his mom, Cari Woelich, when he saw a call from Weidenhofer, who has nearly 3 million followers on Instagram.”I see her in agonizing pain almost every day of her life,” Alex told KETV on Sunday.Cari Woelich was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in 2000, working in personnel.”I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be stationed and to pretty much raise my entire family,” she said.In 2005, she was deployed to Kuwait, where she says she was part of an accident. She medically retired a few years later.Cari has PTSD, early-onset dementia, and mixed connective tissue disease, all related to the accident, she said.”They go out there to serve,” Weidenhofer told KETV from South Dakota on Sunday. “But the biggest issues are waiting at home for them… which is going to have an effect on the quality for the rest of her life.” Weidenhofer chose Cari and surprised her Saturday in Bellevue. Cari told Weidenhofer she has $100,000 in debt and is behind on her mortgage payments. She rented out the home to bring in extra money while staying with Alex, she told KETV.”She burst into tears because she felt like she needed to talk to someone,” Weidenhofer said. “It was a very powerful moment and definitely one of the most impactful stories I think we’ve shared on this campaign.” Weidenhofer has a goal of raising $5 to $10 million for the 50 veterans. He will go to 32 states himself, while other influences will visit the veterans in other states.”It’s life-changing. It could be life-changing,” she said. Cari said the U.S. doesn’t do enough to support veterans. She said it means a lot for a 23-year-old Australian to speak out on her and others’ behalf.”That’s the reality right now is so many veterans out there feel forgotten, stranded,” Weidenhofer said. “They feel left behind.”Alex says his mom is an inspiration. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees after leaving the Air Force, all while raising Alex and his younger brother with autism. The link to Alex’s words about his mom and the fundraiser is here. “It doesn’t shock me,” Cari said of Alex nominating her. “He’s always helping other people. He’s such a good kid.”
A Bellevue veteran received a surprise visit from Australian “kindness creator” Samuel Weidenhofer on Saturday as part of a campaign to help veterans in all 50 states.
Alex Woelich nominated his mom, Cari Woelich, when he saw a call from Weidenhofer, who has nearly 3 million followers on Instagram.
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“I see her in agonizing pain almost every day of her life,” Alex told KETV on Sunday.
Cari Woelich was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in 2000, working in personnel.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be stationed and to pretty much raise my entire family,” she said.
In 2005, she was deployed to Kuwait, where she says she was part of an accident. She medically retired a few years later.
Cari has PTSD, early-onset dementia, and mixed connective tissue disease, all related to the accident, she said.
“They go out there to serve,” Weidenhofer told KETV from South Dakota on Sunday. “But the biggest issues are waiting at home for them… which is going to have an effect on the quality for the rest of her life.”
Weidenhofer chose Cari and surprised her Saturday in Bellevue. Cari told Weidenhofer she has $100,000 in debt and is behind on her mortgage payments. She rented out the home to bring in extra money while staying with Alex, she told KETV.
“She burst into tears because she felt like she needed to talk to someone,” Weidenhofer said. “It was a very powerful moment and definitely one of the most impactful stories I think we’ve shared on this campaign.”
Weidenhofer has a goal of raising $5 to $10 million for the 50 veterans. He will go to 32 states himself, while other influences will visit the veterans in other states.
“It’s life-changing. It could be life-changing,” she said.
Cari said the U.S. doesn’t do enough to support veterans. She said it means a lot for a 23-year-old Australian to speak out on her and others’ behalf.
“That’s the reality right now is so many veterans out there feel forgotten, stranded,” Weidenhofer said. “They feel left behind.”
Alex says his mom is an inspiration. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees after leaving the Air Force, all while raising Alex and his younger brother with autism.
The link to Alex’s words about his mom and the fundraiser is here.
“It doesn’t shock me,” Cari said of Alex nominating her. “He’s always helping other people. He’s such a good kid.”
