The touching reason this 92-year-old widower has gone viral

One daughter‘s kind plea on social media for her 92-year-old father has gone viral and it’s for the sweetest reason.

Earlier this week, Miriam Dunn put out a simple Twitter request asking people to send her recently widowed father, Gerard Dunn, mail to give him something to look forward to.

Revealing her father “listens for the squeak of the mail slot opening”, she put out a call for action for her friends to send Gerard “a note, card, picture, map or story” to him for his birthday in October.

Little did she know her Twitter post was about to go viral – since Monday the tweet has had over 21,000 retweets and nearly 45,000 likes.

Because of the social media post, Miriam told Be they are “expecting thousands of pieces of mail”.

“Dad is growing increasingly excited as he realizes the full extent of this,” she said. “And the media attention makes him shy but also energized.”

Earlier this year, Gerard’s wife of 60 years, Ellen, passed away at the age of 82, but the recent mail influx and messages left on social media has given him a spring back in his step.

“When I read people’s comments he is so moved by the goodness and sweetness in the world,” Miriam said.

People haven’t just sent letters and messages though, Gerard has received a “very lovely fruit and cheese basket”.

People have told me they are sending original art, music, books, cheese, chocolates, whiskey, wine, socks, and DUCT tape,” Miriam explained, but has now asked the kind strangers to instead
“donate to their favourite charity in his name”.

Her viral post has also encouraged some young people to start writing letters.

“Many who responded said they had not written a letter in a long time –some young folks said they never have,” Miriam told Be. “A few said they haven’t been to the post office in years.”

Some schools have even reached out to say they are using this as an “opportunity to have young students write letters for the first time”.

Miriam is hoping it’ll have a “lasting effect” on people all over the globe.

Got a story tip? Send it to tips@yahoo7.com.au

Want more celebrity, entertainment and lifestyle news? Follow Be on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.