Richard Pulley received a check for $965,868 from strangers who watched him deliver food.

The 78-year-old had been working 12-hour shifts as a DoorDash driver for over a year because his wife needed medication they couldn't afford.

The Video That Changed Everything

Brittany Smith shared doorbell-camera footage of Richard carefully climbing the steps to deliver a Starbucks order in Eastern Tennessee.

The video showed something most people never think about — what it looks like when someone works into their late seventies out of necessity, not choice.

The footage went viral with 2.3 million views.

From Virginia Tech to DoorDash

Richard Pulley graduated from Virginia Tech with an economics degree in 1969.

Nearly six decades later, he was completing his 6,000th food delivery because his wife Brenda needed medication to keep her off dialysis.

Smith knocked on Richard's door after seeing the delivery and handed him a $200 tip.

38,000 Strangers Respond

Over 38,000 people donated to help support Richard and his wife, Brenda.

Donations came from the Philippines to the United Kingdom and South Africa, with people giving as little as $10.

Smith described it as "so much more than that because that might have been their last $10."

In five days, strangers raised almost $1 million for Richard and his wife, who've been married for nearly 56 years.

Making Life Livable Again

DoorDash added its own financial donation after the fundraiser went viral.

Richard and Brenda plan to buy a new home and enjoy retirement more comfortably.

Richard said the support was "making life livable once again" and "taking a lot of pressure off of us."