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Fundraising exceeds $350K for man with 21-mile walk for work

Posted February 08, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - An online fundraiser has collected more than $350,000 for a Detroit man who says he walks 21 miles to and from his job in the suburbs.

After the Detroit Free Press wrote about James Robertson and his situation this month, a 19-year-old Wayne State University student launched the crowdfunding campaign with an initial goal of raising $5,000 to buy him a car. Robertson met Evan Leedy and told the young man he would always be in his debt.

The newspaper reports (http://on.freep.com/1C9E1GL ) that over $350,000 was raised. On Friday, Robertson was given a donated Ford Taurus by a car dealer.

The 56-year-old began making the daily trek to the factory where he molds parts in Rochester Hills after his car stopped working in 2005 and bus service was cut back.

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Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com

James Robertson, 56, of Detroit talks to the press after getting into his free 2015 Ford Taurus from Suburban Ford in Sterling Heights, Mich., on Friday, Feb, 6, 2015, following a Detroit Free Press story of Robertson's dedication and journey on his daily 21 mile walk to and from work. (AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Ryan Garza) DETROIT NEWS OUT; NO SALES The Associated Press

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