Michigan Man Receives New Car, Ditches 21 mile walk
Every once in a while, fortune favors those who work hard enough to earn it. This is one of those times.
Last week, the Detroit Free Press ran a story about a man named James Robertson. For the past ten years, 56 year-old James has dealt with a 21 mile commute back and forth between Detroit, Michigan and a factory in Rochester Hills.
21 miles doesn’t seem like such a big deal—unless, of course, you don’t have a car or available public transportation. When James’ car died a decade ago, he kept going to work; only now, he had to walk.
James’ situation began to catch the attention of the community after the Free Press went to print; since then, his story has taken on a life of its own. A complete stranger started a GoFundMe account with the intent of raising a couple thousand dollars towards a “beater” car to help lessen James’ burden.
As of about 6 am on February 8, this is the balance of that account:
Supporters used some of the proceeds from the account to surprise James with a new car (and it’s definitely not a beater—it’s a new Ford Taurus!)
From My Fox Detroit:
He says he doesn’t just like his new car, “I love it,” he said.Finally a new ride for the man whose 1988 Honda sedan broke down 10 years ago. Since then he’s been using buses and his boots to get to his job in Rochester Hills from his house in Detroit.It has been a long time since he’s driven a car. The last time he drove, he had a set of keys. Now, he just has a fob. Once he heard the sound of the engine, he was overcome with emotion and gratitude.”He almost started to cry, and I said ‘James, you can’t do that, you are going to make me cry too,'” said David Fischer, Jr. of Suburban Ford. Evan Leedy, the Wayne State University student who started the GoFundMe account, was also emotional.”It was incredible, I almost started crying,” Leedy said. “My goal was just to get him in a ‘beater’ something to just get him to work and back.”I had a goal of $5,000 to raise.”Instead the fund has raised over $300,000 and the dealership delivered the Ford Taurus – which was exactly what he wanted.
The balance of the account will, of course, go to James.
We at Legal Insurrection have had to cover some brutal stories over the past couple weeks. The Obama Administration is spiraling; hostages are dying; half of Africa is ready to go up in flames.
Let James’ story serve as your palette cleanser and your reminder this week that every so often, extraordinary things are born out of the simple desire to lessen the burdens of another human being.
Happy Sunday, everyone.
Featured Image via the Detroit Free Press
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