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kpete

(72,903 posts)
Tue Feb 3, 2015, 12:01 PM Feb 2015

YES!!! After story of Detroit man walking 21 miles a day goes viral, his life is about to change [View all]

A Downriver car dealership offered to give him a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz or Sonic.
"He gets to choose,"
said Angela Osborne, customer service specialist at Rodgers Chevrolet in Woodhaven.
"We were just impressed with his determination," Osborne said
.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026167111

A story about a Detroit man who commutes about 21 miles a day on foot to and from work has spurred reaction from across the nation, including social media fund-raisers that have netted more than $80,000 in donations as of 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Because buses don't cover the full distance between James Robertson's home in Detroit and his job in Rochester Hills, he walks about eight miles headed to work and about 13 miles home, five days a week. His story — told by Bill Laitner in Sunday's Detroit Free Press — has inspired hundreds to offer money to buy him a car, pay his insurance and to provide professional help in managing the donations.

Robertson said Sunday he was flattered by the attention he'd gotten for his arduous commutes after the Free Press published a front-page story about him -- and amazed that complete strangers would respond so generously, some by offering to buy him a new car and others offering to give him one.

"Are you serious?" he said to a reporter after hearing of one crowd-funding effort alone that, by early Sunday night, had raised $30,000 — $25,000 more than the goal of the originator, a Wayne State University student.

MORE:
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2015/02/01/james-roberston-detroiter-commute-fundraiser/22701087/
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/03/1361960/-After-story-of-Detroit-man-walking-21-miles-a-day-goes-viral-his-life-is-about-to-change
36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Kickin' Faux pas Feb 2015 #1
This is what it is going to take, ladies and gentlemen. Brigid Feb 2015 #2
I saw this morning that the crowdfunding total was over $127 thousand. MineralMan Feb 2015 #3
I love this story kpete Feb 2015 #4
We're very good at helping individuals who MineralMan Feb 2015 #5
excellent point, and what a thoughtful act on your part. niyad Feb 2015 #9
I don't normally donate to crowdfunding efforts, because they MineralMan Feb 2015 #11
you are absolutely correct about that. it helps if there is community in place that actually niyad Feb 2015 #12
Here in the Twin Cities of MN, we have a pretty good system MineralMan Feb 2015 #13
I wish I could say the same here. sadly, we are overrun by the cold and heartless. niyad Feb 2015 #15
Our suburbs are not as good about homelessness. Their MineralMan Feb 2015 #17
Are you thinking of the Union Gospel Mission? StoneCarver Feb 2015 #22
Yes. I misstyped. I've edited my post. MineralMan Feb 2015 #23
Yeah Plucketeer Feb 2015 #24
I have no problem with people helping this man. Not at all. MineralMan Feb 2015 #25
I don't have a problem with this either Plucketeer Feb 2015 #35
Wow. That's great. HappyMe Feb 2015 #6
As most of us try to keep upbeat, stories like this are great. Paper Roses Feb 2015 #7
K&R! smirkymonkey Feb 2015 #8
Great story and I bet he is in great shape! nt kelliekat44 Feb 2015 #10
Probably better than most... N_E_1 for Tennis Feb 2015 #20
That is fantastic, what a wonderful thing liberalhistorian Feb 2015 #14
Seems they (car dealerships) can be approached packman Feb 2015 #32
People can be so amazing Marrah_G Feb 2015 #16
now if only all poor folks would walk 21 miles to work tk2kewl Feb 2015 #18
This is the "Spirit of Detroit" ... N_E_1 for Tennis Feb 2015 #19
I love the cooperative spirit of this story OnlinePoker Feb 2015 #21
Posted this mstinamotorcity2 Feb 2015 #26
Wait...I thought the poor only sat back and waited for their welfare check and Obama-phone? Roland99 Feb 2015 #27
I hope he's not soaked with taxes on that money bluestateguy Feb 2015 #28
Don't the busses have bike racks? nt srican69 Feb 2015 #29
We need more stories like this packman Feb 2015 #30
Best thread I've read on DU in a long time! Kicked & Recommended! In_The_Wind Feb 2015 #31
So, when does this whole story unravel? VScott Feb 2015 #33
This is why I never donate to viral sensations. bigwillq Feb 2015 #36
I find the fetishization of this man gross. Brickbat Feb 2015 #34
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