RAPID CITY, S.D. — After walking nearly 1,900 miles across the United States, Camilo Ruiz arrived in Rapid City this week, marking another milestone in his cross-country journey to Seattle while raising money for single parents battling cancer.

Ruiz began his trek in Orlando, Florida, on March 9. With roughly 1,200 miles remaining, he hopes to reach Seattle by the middle of October. What started as a personal challenge quickly became something much bigger after he partnered with The Singletons, an Arizona-based nonprofit that supports single parents facing cancer or caring for a child with cancer. Ruiz said watching his own mother briefly navigate life as a single parent inspired him to use the journey to help others facing even greater challenges.

“I’ve never really left Florida,” Ruiz said, explaining that he wanted to experience more of the country while pushing himself beyond his comfort zone. Along the way, he has documented his travels on social media while raising money through an online fundraiser benefiting the charity.

Although many assume someone attempting such an ambitious feat must have an athletic background, Ruiz said that wasn’t the case. He spent years working in the hospitality industry and described himself as someone who was used to being on his feet but had never walked farther than a day at a theme park before beginning the expedition. The first two months, he said, were especially difficult, bringing painful blisters and the loss of two toenails. He is now on his third pair of shoes after wearing out two previous pairs during the journey.

Ruiz travels alone, filming and editing his own videos while pushing a bike trailer weighing between 60 and 100 pounds. The trailer carries everything he needs for months on the road, including camping gear, food, water, medical supplies, camera equipment and personal belongings. While some have offered to join him, Ruiz has chosen to make the trip solo, saying he prefers traveling at his own pace and camping alone for safety reasons.

The Black Hills have provided some of the most physically demanding terrain of the entire trip. Ruiz described the steep climbs and descents as some of the toughest he has faced but said the scenery made every mile worthwhile. He later named the stretch from Hot Springs through Custer State Park and into Rapid City as his favorite portion of the journey so far, tying Tennessee as his favorite state to travel through because of its mountains and forests.

Throughout the trip, Ruiz said the generosity of strangers has been one of the most memorable parts of the experience. He singled out Pine Ridge and Kirksville, Missouri, as places where residents repeatedly stopped to offer water, food and encouragement. While he appreciates gifts, he noted that practical support such as financial donations is the most helpful because he must carry everything he receives for hundreds of miles.

During his stay in Rapid City, Ruiz also used social media to help locate the owner of an iPad he found lying in the roadway near Ruby Tuesday. He asked anyone claiming the device to identify its passcode or describe the case before returning it.

Ruiz plans to leave Rapid City on Friday, July 24, at approximately 7:30 a.m., beginning the next leg of his journey toward Tilford before continuing west to Seattle. Community members who have followed his journey are encouraged to gather and cheer him on as he departs.

After nearly 1,900 miles on foot, Ruiz has inspired thousands through his determination, resilience and commitment to helping families facing cancer. Those wishing to follow his journey or support his fundraiser for The Singletons can find him on social media under the name Lowlifewreck, where he shares daily updates from the road and information about the cause.