Camilo Ruiz, a resident of Orlando, Florida, embarked on a cross‑country walk that spanned 3,100 miles and 213 days, finishing in Seattle, Washington. His mission was personal and purposeful: to raise funds for The Singletons, a Phoenix‑based nonprofit that assists single parents coping with cancer.
Why The Singletons?
Ruiz discovered The Singletons while researching charities that support families headed by single parents. “Once I saw their mission, because it isn’t just single parents. It’s single parents dealing with cancer,” he explained. “I knew that was what I wanted to raise money for.” He reached out to the organization, and the partnership was set in motion.
The walk
Starting in sunny Orlando, Ruiz set out on foot, covering an average of about 15 miles per day. The journey took a little over seven months, with the final step placed in Seattle on day 213. Along the way, Ruiz described the experience as a “literal rollercoaster, lots of ups and downs,” but he remained committed, refusing to turn back despite fatigue and harsh weather.
Funds raised and impact
Through his effort, Ruiz collected a total of $14,000 for The Singletons. The nonprofit uses those donations to restock households with essential supplies, provide nutritious meal kits, and purchase birthday gifts for children of single‑parent families battling cancer. Founder Jody Boyd expressed deep gratitude, calling Ruiz “remarkable” and noting that he could have abandoned the trek at any point but chose to continue.
Community response
The story has resonated with readers of Arizona’s Family and the broader Phoenix community, highlighting the power of individual initiative to support vulnerable families. Boyd praised Ruiz’s perseverance, saying, “At any point, he could’ve just said, ‘Oh, I’ve had it,’ and just turned around and gone back. But he didn’t. He’s really an amazing person.”
Looking ahead
Ruiz admitted he is “exhausted” and will need time to recover, but he emphasized that he would undertake a similar challenge again if needed. The Singletons plans to allocate the $14,000 toward expanding its meal‑kit program and increasing the number of birthday gifts it can provide each month.
Readers who know of other individuals or organizations doing good in their community are encouraged to nominate them for future coverage.
Original reporting: azfamily KTVK/KPHO Phoenix (news) — read the source article.
