Navy Vet, 85, Fights Cancer and Bills With Uber Eats

When most people think about retirement, they picture relaxation and peace after decades of hard work. But for 85-year-old Navy veteran Herbert "Bert" Coffen, retirement had to wait as medical bills piled up faster than his savings could handle.

Bert drives for Uber Eats in Lee County, Florida, making around $100 to $150 each week when his health allows it. The lung cancer survivor works three to four days weekly, dropping off meals with his wife Rae by his side.

"We had our retirement, came down here," Bert explained to WINK News. "We were going to leave the place free and clear, and one thing after another, one medical bill and another medical bill, and it just started chipping away at the money we had."

The couple's health challenges read like a medical encyclopedia. Bert beat lung cancer and underwent hip replacement surgery, while Rae, 81, receives treatment for heart problems and battles early-stage dementia.

Before joining Uber Eats, Bert owned a computer programming business that eventually closed. He couldn't just sit idle while bills mounted, so he grabbed his car keys and started delivering.

"Uber's saving me to a degree," he told reporters. "It's prolonging the inevitable, but it's better than nothing. I just can't sit here and do nothing."

The job hasn't been easy on his aging body. Bert fell while climbing stairs during one delivery, earning two black eyes for his effort.

Sunny's Take

When Bert's daughter reached out to local news about her father's situation, she sparked something beautiful. A GoFundMe campaign launched to support the couple, giving their community a chance to honor a veteran who never stopped serving.

Bert says his motivation comes from his granddaughter Alexis and the joy of meeting new people on his routes. "Alexis is my joy, my luck, my life," he shared. "To see her little face, you know, and to love me the way she does, that's it."

The campaign offers people nationwide a way to help a veteran who's given so much finally receive the retirement he earned.