Posted on 03/09/2017 11:26:10 AM PST by nickcarraway
A Plano man’s daily walk to work has received a lot of attention in Collin County this weekend.
Five days a week, Patrick walks the 15 miles from his Plano home to the Braum’s near U.S. 75 and U.S. 380 in McKinney where he works as the acting manager.
The walk typically takes him two-and-a-half to three hours.
But for Patrick, 52, it is simply a matter of commitment.
“You can’t keep your job if you don’t go to work,” he said. “I used to work at the Braum’s in Plano and I got transferred here because they needed help here. I said ‘OK,’ and my commitment to them was, I have to be at work so I’ll be at work, whatever it takes.”
Patrick said that a friend drops him off at home after work each night. He has been making the walk to work for the last seven months.
But over the weekend, Patrick’s stroll along the service road caught the eye of a McKinney Police officer, who stopped to ask if he needed help or a ride.
After taking Patrick to work and learning his story, Officer Branson asked if he could take a photo with him.
Officer Branson then shared the photo and the story on Facebook, writing, “My kids will know about Patrick, my grand kids will know about Patrick, everyone should know about Patrick.” The post garnered nearly 5,000 “likes” in just 24 hours. Patrick said his Braum’s location has been flooded with calls from people wanting to help. A woman even started a GoFundMe account for him, which raised more than $1,000 in one day.
“There is a lot of kindness in Collin County,” he said.
Patrick, who asked that his last name not be shared, said he didn’t want the spotlight, but he hopes his story will inspire younger generations.
“Commitment. You make a commitment to your job, to go to work everyday. They expect you to go to work everyday. No excuses," he said.
No excuses -- just a man leading by example, one step at a time.
On Monday afternoon, Braum's Spokesperson Amanda Beuchaw released the following statement to NBC 5 regarding Patrick:
The news story that was ran on the station over the weekend about one of our employees that works at the McKinney Braum's , Patrick, has been brought to our attention. Many viewers and customers have been reaching out to us because they are concerned that Patrick is having to walk so far to work.
When we were notified, we started looking into the matter with our management team in the area.
About a month ago, Patrick was offered a promotion that would move him from the Plano store to the McKinney store. He is a terrific, hard-working employee and we wanted to offer him the chance to advance in the company. During his interview for the new position, he was asked if he had reliable transportation and he informed the district manager that he did. We did not learn that he was walking to work until we saw the news story that ran this past weekend. We take the health and well-being of our employees seriously and we plan to address this with Patrick.
Thank you for highlighting how great of an employee that Patrick is for the company. We just wanted to address the public's concern, which we share also, and let everyone know that the situation is being evaluated.
Or buy a bike!
I agree with what somebody else, said... this must mean 15 miles round trip not one way.
Hill countries why God invented 18 and 21 speed bicycles. Grind up the hills and go like stink down.
There are no buses that carry passengers from Plano to McKinney.
And no one working at that location will give him a ride?
He was working at the Plano location ... easy walking distance from his home. But he was recently transferred to the McKinney location and just decided to keep walking. Not sure about his financial situation.
Sounds like either a personal PR stunt or he really, really likes to walk.
From what I've heard/read about it ... he just likes walking.
LOL!!!! Nope. Flat as a pancake. Perhaps a slight uphill grade from Plano to McKinney, but that's it.
There’s nothing for employee morale like hiring a mentally ill manager... Actually, I think I’ve worked for a few of those in the past.
I think some guy in Detroit still holds the record of 30 miles every day.
There was that UPS employee who walked to work and his colleagues gave him a car. That was another recent story.
No, it's about 15 one way. Assuming he lives near the location in Plano where he used to work ... near downtown Plano ... from there to the McKinney location is 15 miles. Google Maps puts it at a 5 hour walk, though.
I used to ride 16 miles each way, a couple times a week. Once I got into shape, I could do it in about ten minutes longer than it took to drive.
Once a co-worker passed me in the company driveway and passed me again as I was turning onto my street. He was pretty mad.
Then I moved and the commute was way to far at 35 miles each way.
Kudos to the guy for walking, he will stay in shape.
Braums is just a small fast food ice cream and burger joint..........What do you presume his asst. manager's salary is, $200K? Try a buck or two over the minimum wage of the kids that work there........
My personal best, at age 39, 1:20:02. Nowhere near world class:
The official IAAF world record for men is 58:23, set by Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea on March 21, 2010 at the Lisbon half marathon in Portugal,[4] and for women is 1:05:06, set by Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya on February 10, 2017, in Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. (Wiki)
I saw the story about the guy in Detroit everyday NEVER missed a day walked rain, snow, sleet, hail job just did not pay enough for his rent, food, ect. I think he was a janitor of some sort!!! I am AMAZED when I look at people like this and the SPOILED protesters we have in the streets!!!! I think this story is probably true, the gentleman may be a slow learner or something of that sort maybe he CANT drive!!!
When I grew up I hiked everywhere...well about half the day I rode my horse and the other half I hiked. We did not have TV and my best friend did...but she lived 3 miles from me and there was a substantial hill in between. My brother and I happily hiked to her house and back (in the dark at times) to watch our (his) favorite shows...Science Fiction Theater and Star Trek. We regularly hiked over and back without a thought and often encountered rattlesnakes along the way.
One day my dad and I were out checking things on the ranch and got stuck in the mud 10 miles from home...hiked home. My dad was a little concerned about me because I was only about 9 but I had no problem with the hike. People used to hiking have no problem doing it.
I cannot start to hike like I used to, but I was an in shape kid for sure. When I was older I had to help my brothers haul hay, my dad was an early feminist and thought I could and should work right along with my brothers. People that don’t regularly do such things think it is a big deal but not so much if that is what you do all the time.
I think the guy needs a car, I have no issue with people donating money to get him one. I doubt he is paid a lot even as a manager and no one knows his story- but people are free to donate or not. I can easily believe this story though, it doesn’t seem that out there to me.
Yes some are out of touch for sure. With my background I didn’t find anything fishy about the story. I have no idea if it is the truth or not, but rings true to me.
Plano to McKinney is 14 miles according to my map program, depending on where he lives and where he works 15 miles sounds right for one way trip.
People keep saying he should use a bike- most rural highways are not set up for bike riding which makes it very dangerous to do so. The other thing is not everyone is a bike rider, I never was into riding a bike, would much rather walk.
Some mentioned public transportation which I doubt exists in that area.
Life is far different on the back roads, even now.
That wasn't a "stunt" and I'm hoping it was just a poor choice of words.........
Here's a follow up on that gentleman..........
And it should be noted that in the article he just received a raise, from 10.55 an hour to $10.80. Not too many people would walk and bus 21 miles in winter for a minimum wage job.......
“He’s pulling down manager money, presumably full time, and he can’t afford a car or at least a bus pass? And no one working at that location will give him a ride? Sounds like either a personal PR stunt or he really, really likes to walk.”
*****
i thought the same thing. Ever hear of Uber? hck, I;ve seen weird share-rides on Craigslist. Either he cant get a license or he likes to walk. REALLY likes to walk. The dude must be in great shape due to the calories lost.
Can you also guarantee there's bus service along his route?
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