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Student Who Walked 20 Miles To Work Rewarded With New Car

Student Who Walked 20 Miles To Work Rewarded With New Car

"He's just awesome. He's our role model."

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A student from Alabama who walked 20 miles to work on his first day after his car broke down has been rewarded for his perseverance by the CEO of the company.

Consider the situation, it's the night before you're supposed to be starting a new job. You've got everything sorted, but then your car breaks down and you can't find any other way to travel the 20 miles to the job.

What do you do? Most people would just call up and say that there was no way they could get there, right? Not Walter Carr.

Carr, a 20-year-old student who lives in Homewood, Alabama, set off walking and slogged through the middle of the night to make sure that he didn't disappoint his new employer.

Eventually, word got back to the CEO of the company - who was so moved by his story that he gifted him his own car and set up a GoFundMe page for him that, at last count, had raised around $8,500 (£6,500).

Bellhops

Carr was starting a new job with removals company Bellhops, and had to get to a job at a woman's house in the town of Pelham. After failing to find a lift, he realised there was no other option than to walk it.

Along the way he was picked up by the police - twice - to ask him where he was headed. One set of officers bought him breakfast and a lunch to go, another took him some of the way, but both were impressed with the sheer determination of the LAD.

Carr told USA Today: "I've never been that person that gives up,

"I've just never seen myself doing that. I can only be defeated if I allow myself to be defeated."

He eventually arrived at the job early, and the woman whose things he was supposed to be moving was so impressed by his story that she said that he could go and have a rest upstairs if he wanted.

No chance, he set straight to work.

Jenny Lamey posted on Facebook: "I just can't tell you how touched I was by Walter and his journey,

"He is humble and kind and cheerful and he had big dreams! He is hardworking and tough. I can't imagine how many times on that lonely walk down 280 in the middle of the night did he want to turn back.

"How many times did he wonder if this was the best idea. How many times did he want to find a place to sit or lie down and wait 'til morning when he could maybe get someone to come pick him up and bring him back home. But he walked until he got here! I am in total awe of this young man!"


Bellhops

The CEO of Bellhops, Luke Marklin, added: "We are a company that is trying to change a broken, not customer-friendly industry,

"We're trying to transform that with a lot of heart and a lot of grit. And when I read that story on Sunday I was blown away, and I couldn't think of a better story of what this company is all about."

So, he gave him his own car, a Ford Escape.

Marklin continued: "It seemed like the car was going to be put to a lot better use,

"He's just awesome. He's our role model."

Despite all the praise he has received, Carr remains humble.

Bellhops

"I'm still in shock," he said. "I thank him [Marklin]

"I thank everyone for taking their time to listen to my story."

Fair play, Walter LAD.

Featured Image Credit: Bellhops

Topics: Work, News, Alabama, Job, Car, US