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Determined Homeless Teen Bikes 6 Hours to get to College, Sleeps in Tent Waiting for dorm rooms to Open in August

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Fred Barley

Fred Barley

19-year-old Fred Barley has once again proven that with determination, you can get what you want out of life.

Barley was found by police officers last Saturday sleeping in a tent outside of Gordon State College in Barrysville, GA.

The officers, instead of giving him a ticket for trespassing, decided to listen to his story.

He told the officers how he had ridden his younger brother’s bike 6 hours from Conyers to Barnesville (about 80km) to register for classes for his second semester of college. He stuffed all he owned in two duffel bags and carried 2 gallons of water as he rode through the heat of summer.

Barley pitched his tent at a nearby bush near the campus, determined to live there till August when the college dorm rooms will open.

He had nothing more than a box of cereal to eat.

Homeless and jobless, Barley spent the day searching for a job. It was after he returned to his tent that the police, responding to a report that someone was living in the bush told him to come out with his hands up.

The officers listened as he shared his story.

He told the officers that the bushes on campus are safer than his tent in the Conyers. He told them that he’s a biology major and will like to go to medical school one day.

The officers took him to a motel and paid for his next two nights.

“He was so understanding and he said, ‘I definitely applaud you for doing this. We can’t allow you to stay here, but I have somewhere you can stay.

The stuff that’s happening with police officers, I am black and he didn’t care what color I was. He just helped me, and that meant a lot,” Barley told Channel 2 Action News.

One of the officers’ wife posted the story on a Barnesville community Facebook page and hundreds of people stepped up to help.

Casey Blaney and the motel owner paid for him to stay in the hotel till the dorm rooms are open. A local pizzeria, DB’s Pizzeria, hired him on as a dishwasher. The University offered to get him in the dorm early – on Monday.

“I created a position for him before he walked in my door. I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know the color of his skin. I didn’t care. I’ve been there so I guess I had a soft spot for anyone who is that determined to succeed in life,” Debbie Adamson, owner of DB’s Pizzeria said.

Fred Barley and Debbie Adamson

Fred Barley and Debbie Adamson

“Fred I’m up your way a lot and I’m a Uber driver. If you ever need a ride man I got you! No charge! Good luck in all you do,” said Marcus Powell on a Facebook page Success For Fred created for Barley.

A man took Fred to breakfast and gave him a new men's mountain bike and running shoes.

A man took Fred to breakfast and gave him a new men’s mountain bike and running shoes.

I was shocked by how much support people will give from Lamar County and counties all over and even people from across the country that I’ve never met just wanted to help so much in my life. I was just so shocked and grateful.

Some of the gifts aren’t as important as the friends I’ve made. More important than everything – the clothes, the shoes – the relationships mean so much more to me.

The Bible says, ‘You can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’ so I know I can. My legs are working. Millions of people walk and bike to work every day. I definitely think I can bike a couple hours to get to my future,” Barley said.

Fred Barley2

A GoFundMe Page, created for Barley has raised over $130 thousand within 3 days.

Barley says God has been the driving force that keeps him going.

Barley shared a video on Facebook to thank everyone that has helped him thus far. Watch below:

Photo & Story Credit: Facebook | WSB-TV

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