![\"\"](\"http:\/\/challengedetroit.org\/blog\/sarahrobb\/files\/2015\/05\/photo-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Detroit Riverfront<\/p><\/div>\n
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I finished one of my mid-week training runs and stopped on Woodward, just past Comerica Park. From a distance I saw a man. I\u2019ll be honest, he sparked my interest. I only saw the back of his head at the time, and there was a part of me that was instantly drawn to him. I became curious and started to ask myself \u201cI wonder where he came from\u201d, \u201cwhat is he doing?\u201d, \u201cwhat is he holding?\u201d, \u201chow long had he been traveling?\u201d, and \u201cwould he be bothered if I approached him from behind?\u201d<\/p>\n
Brush Park, Detroit<\/p><\/div>\n
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I continued to walk closer and finally found the courage to approach the man in a wheelchair whose name I came to learn was George*. George was likely in his late 60\u2019s. I was interested in George\u2019s story because he seemed to have a life I wanted to learn about. I learned that it had been 10 years since George had visited downtown. He recently moved to the Midtown area in November, and finally got a chance to pay the waterfront a visit. George told me that years ago no one was around, and that his stroll down Woodward was a pleasant surprise. He said \u201cthere are many diverse groups now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Old Tiger Stadium, Corktown, Detroit<\/p><\/div>\n
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George travelled almost 3 miles in a wheelchair to spend the day fishing. Sadly, he was unsuccessful and left for home empty handed. I don\u2019t want readers to remember his unsuccessful fishing trip. Instead I want readers to remember this man\u2019s determination. Before George made his way down Woodward Avenue using his own devices, he attempted to board a public bus. George waited for the bus only to find out that he missed it by 20 minutes. Rather than waiting for an unknown amount of time for another George took it upon himself to find his own way down Woodward to the river. That\u2019s determination!<\/p>\n
George had just one leg and arm that were mobile. He used one of his legs to propel him forward, the other was the obvious cause for his special mobility. One of his arms was used to hold a fishing pole which I learned once prevented him from entry on a public bus because it could be used as a weapon. The man used one arm and one leg to travel down one of the most travelled streets in southeastern Michigan, I should also add that it\u2019s in disrepair due to the construction of the M-1 Rail.<\/p>\n
I walked with George for approximately 5 blocks. In that time I listened, asked questions, and talked to a stranger that I may never have interacted with had it not been for me running that night. The interactions that I\u2019ve had on the streets of Detroit make me happy to live here. People are welcoming, they\u2019re open, they are gracious, open and humble. George was all of these things.<\/p>\n