Thanks to an Iowa State student, more than $500 was raised for a new Boys and Girls Club of Ames.

Jeremy Williams, a sophomore in computer engineering, rode his Trek bicycle 230 miles for 24 hours around central Iowa, starting at 5 p.m. Friday.

Williams, who is president of the Towers Residence Association, planned to ride to Huxley and Nevada, and then take the Old Highway 30 back to Ames. He was forced to change his route, however, a few times because of traffic.

“The weather was great, but it was extremely windy,” he said.

Williams, who pedaled around southwest Story County as many times as possible during the 24 hours, stopped at Towers a few times to eat. His breaks, he said, were no longer than 15-20 minutes, except for an extended break he took at about 2 a.m. Saturday.

Eight support drivers, who drove in shifts, were with Williams during his lengthy ride. T. J. Mull, TRA treasurer, accompanied Williams from 2 to 8 a.m.

During that span, Mull said Williams covered about 100 miles.

“I thought it was self-sacrificing,” Mull said. “He looked really battered and really tired. I don’t know how he kept going.”

Mull said Williams’ effort was “massive” compared to past TRA projects.

“In the past, it’s been more of a group effort, not an individual effort,” Mull said.

Geff Gescheidler, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Ames, said the donations received from Williams’ effort will go toward the building fund for the new facility. He said he hopes to break ground for the new building, to be located on South 5th Street, by next summer.