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Detroit Man Who Walked 21 Miles to Work Each Day to Finally Be Bought Car

2 minute read
James The Walker
In this Jan. 29, 2015, photo, James Robertson, 56, of Detroit, walks toward Woodward Aveune in Detroit to catch his morning bus to Somerset Collection in Troy before walking to his job at Schain Mold Engineering in Rochester Hills. Getting to and from his factory job 23 miles away in Rochester Hills, he'll take a bus partway there and partway home and walk 21 miles according to the Detroit Free PressRyan Garza—AP
By Kevin McSpadden

James Robertson has arguably America’s harshest commute, a 21-mile trek that takes him through the Detroit’s worst neighborhoods. Now, his daily journey has captured the nation’s attention and prompted a GoFundMe campaign that has raised $130,000 to provide him with a car.

For the last decade, the 56-year-old has walked eight miles to work and 13 miles back again. He usually arrives home at 4 a.m., sleeps for two hours, and then wakes up at 6 a.m. to return to his factory job, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The daily odyssey takes him through Detroit’s infamous 8 Mile neighborhood in the middle of the night. But despite the ordeal, Robertson remains upbeat about his situation. “I sleep a lot on the weekend, yes I do,” he says. “I can’t imagine not working.”

A Sunday profile in the Detroit Free Press inspired hundreds of people to offer Robertson cash, chauffeur services and even cars.

Evan Leedy, a student of Wayne State University, was inspired to start a GoFundMe campaign. “I set the goal at the beginning of $5,000. Right now my page has more than $30,000,” Leedy said on Sunday evening.

Yet donations have now left $30,000 in the dust — the total stands at $130,000 at time of publication and is rising fast.

Robertson said that he is proud that he has managed his commute for all these years, but with the help of the kickstarter campaign, it looks like his walking days may be over.

[Detroit Free Press]

 

See Detroit's Stunning Evolution in 19 GIFs

Ardnt St, between Elmwood and Ellery St. Google
East Arizona Street between John R Street and Brush Street.Google
East Arizona Street between North Long Beach Road and California Street.Google
West Robinwood Street between Woodward Avenue and Charleston Street.Google
West Robinwood Street between Cass Avenue and Charleston Street.Google
The corner of West Robinwood Street and Charleston Street. Google
Havana Street between Penrose and Annin Street.Google
Edgevale Street between John R Street and Brush Street.Google
Havana Street between Penrose and Annin Street.Google
West Canfield Street between Woodward and Cass Avenue Google
The corner of Columbia Street and Cass Avenue. Google
The corner of Selden Street and Woodward Avenue.Google
The corner of Alexandrine Street and Woodward Avenue.Google
The corner of Cass and Alexandrine Street.Google
The corner of Cass and West Willis Street.Google
Woodward Avenue between West Forest Avenue and West Canfield Street in.Google
The intersection between Cass Avenue and Grand River Avenue.Google
Selden Street between Gibbs Street and Windsor Street.
Selden Street between Gibbs Street and Windsor Street.Google

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