{"id":27637,"date":"2021-11-16T17:28:49","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T17:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=360917"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:14:09","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:14:09","slug":"man-with-cancer-receives-15000-check-from-secret-santa-to-help-pay-medical-bills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/man-with-cancer-receives-15000-check-from-secret-santa-to-help-pay-medical-bills\/","title":{"rendered":"Man With Cancer Receives $15,000 Check From \u2018Secret Santa\u2019 To Help Pay Medical Bills"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/span><\/p>\n

Steve and Susan Andrews have been dressing up as Santa and Mrs. Claus for the last 25 years, volunteering in schools and other places.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, they were unable to continue their holiday tradition. Last Christmas was due to COVID-19, but this year is because Steve has been diagnosed with cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This year, instead of the Andrews surprising kids as Santa and Mrs. Claus, they are the ones who received a very special surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

They got a knock on their door and were handed a gift box. Inside it were two checks totally $15,000 from a Secret Santa! The unexpected gift will help pay for many of Steve\u2019s medical costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But where did the money come from? Nobody knows except Nate Eaton, news director of East Idaho News. Eaton has been delivering these surprises for the past seven years, but will never reveal who the \u201cSecret Santa\u201d is.<\/span><\/p>\n

It all began in 2013 when the Secret Santa asked Eaton to give out $100,000. Now, the gift total has grown to $1 million and they\u2019ve been able to surprise more than 350,000 households!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one person. It\u2019s not a program. It\u2019s not a corporation. It\u2019s not like it\u2019s trust fund or anything. It\u2019s actually a living person who just enjoys giving his money away,\u201d Eaton told<\/a> Inside Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n

He said the Secret Santa felt that there is a lot of need in their community lately, especially after many struggled with the pandemic, so now they are handing out bigger gifts.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last year, deserving people even received cars as presents, and many others received large checks to help pay for medical bills.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to be eligible to receive a surprise from the Secret Santa, you have to be a resident of the East Idaho region, and be nominated by someone.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>
Photo: YouTube\/Inside Edition<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Eaton loves how kind people are in wanting to donate to Secret Santa\u2019s initiative, he has a word of advice:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo something in your community with whatever you have and we promise you\u2019ll feel better if you get to do it rather than having us do it,\u201d he told<\/a> Inside Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n