Yeah that is what raised my eyebrow too. 15 miles is more than a half marathon.
Agreed,
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.