gofundme account for Detroit guy who walks 21 miles to work - balance = $288,000

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.gofundme.com/l7girc

Update: Hi everyone! At the beginning, my goal was just $5000. I just wanted to get him a car to get back and forth to work, but thanks to everyone's generous donations, this is skyrocketed into more than just a car. I want to thank everyone for their continued donations. Every penny will help James in any way that he needs it.

Leaving home in Detroit at 8 a.m., James Robertson doesn't look like an endurance athlete.

Pudgy of form, shod in heavy work boots, Robertson trudges almost haltingly as he starts another workday.

But as he steps out into the cold, Robertson, 56, is steeled for an Olympic-sized commute. Getting to and from his factory job 23 miles away in Rochester Hills, he'll take a bus partway there and partway home. And he'll also walk an astounding 21 miles.

Five days a week. Monday through Friday.

It's the life Robertson has led for the last decade, ever since his 1988 Honda Accord quit on him.

Every trip is an ordeal of mental and physical toughness for this soft-spoken man with a perfect attendance record at work. And every day is a tribute to how much he cares about his job, his boss and his coworkers. Robertson's daunting walks and bus rides, in all kinds of weather, also reflect the challenges some metro Detroiters face in getting to work in a region of limited bus service, and where car ownership is priced beyond the reach of many.

But you won't hear Robertson complain — nor his boss.

James Robertson, 56, of Detroit, walks toward Woodward Ave. in Detroit to catch his morning bus to Somerset Collection in Troy before walking to his job at Schain Mold & Engineering in Rochester Hills on Thursday January 29, 2015. James walks 21 miles daily round trip to his job.Robertson's roundtrip commute requires a bus ride each direction as well as nearly 21-miles of walking consuming 22 hours of his day before beginning again throughout the work week.

[elias49]

1. I don't begrudge the man a dime..

but at the same time, that's f****** ridiculous.
He won't be walking to work any more.
I daresay he won't be working at all.
It's a strange world in which we live.

[Fred Sanders]

2. His uncomplaining boss knew about this for 21 years? How much did he give?

[Fumesucker]

3. Didn't give him a raise evidently..

[Fred Sanders]

4. Just thought that maybe a car allowance might have been given to this incredible man, or, yes, a

raise.

[closeupready]

7. A raise, yes, but a car allowance? It might not be a business with deep pockets like that.

And then there is always the element to the equation, if I do it for him, then I'll have to do it for others, too.

[Arugula Latte]

9. It's been "only" a decade since his car died, so, ya know, piece of cake.

[UtahLib]

5. That's wonderful! I am so happy for him. nt

[closeupready]

6. I'm SO happy for him - he really deserves every penny.

K&R

[Liberal_in_LA]

12. balance = 292K

[closeupready]

13. 292K / 21 years (of walking a dozen miles back and forth to the same job,

never late, come hell or high water) = $15,000/year? I think so.

Granted, he didn't outsource any jobs, he didn't raid any pension funds, he didn't buy up weak companies with assets and take out loans against those assets in order to pay bonuses and then file for bankruptcy, so maybe on those measures, he could be dinged. .... oh wait! This isn't Mitt Romney we're talking about, sorry, I forgot.

[Brickbat]

8. Maybe we should set up a gofundme for U.S. infrastructure.

[glasshouses]

10. I read that he and his girlfriend lived in a payed off house so

why didn't he buy a beater car ?

Even at $10 an hour working 40 hours a week if you live rent free it's do able

[PassingFair]

15. Insurance in Detroit is hella expensive.

Out of reach of a minimum wage worker trying to support him/herself.

[PassingFair]

16. Here's more....

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/detroit-man-with-marathon-walking-commute-surprised-with-new-car/ar-AA94TCu

snip>He spent part of the week negotiating a reasonable insurance rate for Robertson, who has not driven in 10 years. Leedy told Reuters he was initially quoted a $15,000-a-year premium, a quote that illustrates Detroit's notoriously high insurance rates.<unsnip

[glasshouses]

17. holy cow ! now I see why

[Moonwalk]

11. Given how much raised, maybe they should search around Detroit for other like this man...

...buy several cars with this money and give them all transportation?

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. balance = $303,000