Overwhelming solidarity after the SRF broadcast: Monika Steiger’s “last wish” comes true

16 years ago Monika Steiger’s husband became ill with colon cancer and later with dementia. She took care of him at home. But at some point everything became too much for Monika. “Physically and mentally”, as she said last week in the program “Mona right in the middle – for people living in poverty”. So her GP decided that her husband needed a foster home. Shortly afterwards he died.

Although the couple had worked hard all their lives, the money was not enough to fund Monika’s care and then the husband’s professional care. Debts piled up. Monika’s pension fund has been seized, since then she lives on 1100 francs a month. In the SRF show, the pensioner talks about her biggest dream: a train journey through Switzerland. But she can’t afford that.

Monika’s fate touched many people, including Parvez Sheik Fareed. He reviewed the program and launched an online appeal for donations. The goal: CHF 3,000 for a GA senior travel card.

The goal was quickly reached – and yet people continue to donate: more than 42,000 francs were collected in just three days. Sheik Fareed wants to let the fundraising campaign run for now, he tells Blick. “Apparently many people want to contribute to Monika having less financial worries and finally being able to fulfill a few wishes,” he says.

Monika Steiger is overwhelmed by the togetherness. However, the GA travel card comes second: “First, I will pay back my debts. That’s the main thing,” she told Blick. But it’s hard for her to believe that her “last wish,” as she calls it, will soon come true: “It was my husband’s dream and mine – we worked both so that we could have something after retirement and they got to know each other Switzerland.”

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