Bryce Gaudian of the Hayward area returned from his 2015 fundraising effort for Hill Country Youth Ranch in Ingram, Texas, and Big Springs Ranch for Children in Leakey, Texas, according to a press release.

Both ranches serve abused, abandoned and traumatized children.

Gaudian set out to raise $70,000 for the ranches so nine specific projects at the ranches could be fully funded.

The day before Gaudian began his 35 miles of ultra-hiking in Sequoia National Park with an elevation that reached above 11,000 feet and then an additional 10 miles of ultra-hiking in the Mohave Desert on Aug. 24 and 25, he reached and exceeded his goal.

He raised $70,290.

Generous donations were from as far away as Hawaii and Alaska to the west, Mexico to the south, Canada to the north, England to the east, and literally from coast to coast and 29 of the 50 states.

This 2015 effort for these ranches, which Gaudian said are “epicenters of compassion,” comes on the heels of last September’s 49-mile ultra-hike in the Grand Canyon that raised more than $52,000 for four outdoor recreation projects for the children.

Gaudian is a former volunteer assistant coach for the Albert Lea cross country team.