MERIDIAN, Idaho — The winner of the popular television series “Survivor” is planning to help real-life survivors.
Mike Gabler, 52, a Texas native who now lives in southern Idaho, announced after becoming the “Sole Survivor” on Wednesday night that he would be donating his $1 million prize to veterans advocacy groups, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Gabler, who works in an operating room at Edwards Lifesciences as a heart valve expert, lives in Meridian, KREM-TV reported.
“There are people who need that money more,” Gabler told host Jeff Probst after winning Survivor 43. “And I’m going to donate the entire prize -- the entire million-dollar prize, in my father’s name, Robert Gabler, who was a Green Beret -- to veterans in need who are recovering from psychiatric problems, PTSD, and curb the suicide epidemic.”
Gabler told KREM that his experience during the 26-day competition was “amazing.”
“It was just an incredible experience. The crew was spectacular,” Gabler told the television station. “The adventure with those castaways, the people that were on with me this season, were all incredible. I got nothing but great things to say.”
“Survivor” took place in the Fiji Islands this season, the Morning News reported. The three-hour season finale included the top five competitors -- Gabler, Owen Knight, Jesse Lopez, Cassidy Clark and Karla Cruz Godoy,
Gabler, Clark and Knight made it to the final three. He is the second-oldest winner in the show’s history, People reported.
The next season of “Survivor” premieres on March 1, 2023, KREM reported.
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