Mattress Mack is hoping his family’s generous contribution toward Mary Lou Retton‘s medical expenses leads to more donations for the Olympics legend … telling TMZ Sports it’s the least they could do.
Mack — real name Jim McIngvale — and his wife, Linda, wrote a check for $50,000 to assist with the gold medalist’s hospital bills as she remains in the ICU with a rare form of pneumonia.
We spoke with Mack — who owns Gallery Furniture in Texas — about his family’s decision to step up in such a big way … and he said they have been fans since before she became a household name at the 1984 Olympic Games.
TMZSports.com
“We followed Mary Lou since her career in Houston,” Mack said. “My wife and I have always been a huge support of Béla and Márta Károlyi’s gymnastics team. My son worked out with them on the team for years, my daughter did as well.”
“Mary Lou was always a shining point of light, as George Bush would say, and we pray for Mary Lou’s recovery and the $50,000 is the least we could do to help an American icon get better.”
In fact, Mack said Linda went through a similar health scare when she suffered a severe lung infection from pneumonia a year ago … and now that she’s doing much better, he hopes the same happens for Mary Lou.
“My parents taught me, and I try to teach my children, and Linda certainly lives that life, that the essence of living is giving,” Mack added. “People get in a hard spot, let’s help ’em out because one of these days, all of us will be in a hard spot. We’re thrilled to help our Mary Lou, we pray for her speedy recovery and, again, I’ve lived my life by that motto — ‘the essence of living is giving.'”
The fundraiser set up by Mary Lou’s daughters has now surpassed its initial goal of $50,000 as she continues to fight for her life… and the donations continue to flood in by the minute.