A random act of kindness. A chance to leave work early. A baseball game. All things that when added up, had an impact that one woman couldn’t never have seen coming.

Life can get hard, but despite that, some people try to keep a smile on their face. And for one woman, she spent her days trying to help others when she could – even though she was struggling herself.

It was that fighting spirit that caused others to take notice.

When Zachery Derniowsky, known as MDMotivator on TikTok, was wandering the streets of Detroit, Mich., he didn’t know who he would find. But the young man had a single goal.

It’s Mother’s Day. I want to celebrate a mom,” he said in his video.

Spotting the exuberant traffic cop, he walks up to her. He asks Linita Edge if she would help him by buying a Detroit Tigers jersey for $1. After a minute, she said, “I got you,” and handed over the $1, and he gave her the jersey. 

The pair chats, with Edge explaining that she recently told her son their family would have to “pull it together” to try and cope with some financial struggles they were experiencing. “I told them, ‘we’re just going to have to pray,'” she said.

Dereniowski asks Edge what are her chances at leaving work early to go to the baseball game that night to which she chuckles and says ‘close to none.” But that doesn’t stop the TikTok influencer. He tracks down her boss and gets permission for Edge to leave early from work. When Edge worries about losing money on her paycheck, Dereniowski hands her $500 cash.

@mdmotivator “Happy Mother’s Day” (GoFundMe 1N B10) 🥺❤️ #tigers #mom #mothersday #love #detroit #baseball #kindness #money ♬ original sound – Zachery Dereniowski

“Are you serious?” Edge asked while wiping the tears in her eyes. “Thank you Jesus.” The video ends with the pair attending the baseball game.

But that wasn’t the end of her story. Dereniowski posted the video to his more than 16 million followers, who immediately were drawn to the woman’s story, and personality. 

He told his viewers that he set up a GoFundMe for Edge, who had recently lost her husband. She was now the only provider for their family.

“Let’s all come together and show Edge and her family the power of the internet and bless this family for Mother’s Day weekend,” Dereniowski said.

His viewers rose to the challenge. “She was doing everything with a smile on her face with all that pain hiding behind. A true warrior,” one of the viewers wrote.

Another viewer was excited after recognizing her. “I work in Detroit and she’s my favorite crossing guard and deserves this so much! God bless you and her!”

@mdmotivator $50,000 for single mom 🥺❤️ #mother #baseball #detroit #kindness #money ♬ original sound – Zachery Dereniowski

In just three days, the fundraiser has amassed more than $50,000. Using the same formula, Dereniowski approaches Edge while she works, and tells her she has to come with him. 

Back where it all started, the pair walked out onto the field, where Edge was presented with a check for $50,000. Immediately she dropped to her feet, crying, and simply said, “Oh my God.”

Dereniowski said all he hopes is that others find a way to spread kindness.

I hope that this ‘viral kindness’ is contagious and creates a ripple effect in the lives of people who have watched this video,” he said.

And for Edge, she said her needs were simple.

“I don’t want that house on a hill or the fanciest car but that they continue to work hard doing what they do and stay focused and make it with everything that I believe that’s good that I put in them, I’m happy. I could die happy.”

Watch how Dereniowski helped change Edge’s life in the video below.

Sources: Insider | My Positive Outlooks | CBS Detroit