Ruck march travelling through Wellington County in support of veterans

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Participants in the 13th annual Road to Recovery ruck march will take the long way into town on a 142km journey to Guelph.

From Listowel and into Mount Forest, they’ll head up Sligo Road and march down Main Street, providing public exposure as the group enters its Wellington County leg.

The march, in which participants travel on foot carrying a loaded rucksack, departs Wingham on Sept. 16 and is set to conclude at the Guelph Legion on Sept. 19.

Marchers maintain a rhythm of 50 minutes marching with 10-minute halts — targeting a pace of 5km/h for the first three days, before dropping to 4km/h on the fourth day.

Distance marching while carrying a 35- to 45-pound weighted pack to build endurance is a military staple, but in this case it’s also a symbol for the burden veterans and first responders carry.

Ruckers are marching two kilometres for each veteran and first responder who died in the past year while raising money for a Legion homelessness prevention program.

Ruckers are expected to arrive in Mount Forest between 3 and 4pm on Sept. 17 before spending the night at Branch 134.

Mount Forest Legion executive member Derek Moore said the local branch will provide an overnight stay and meals.

Shower access is also being provided at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.

From Mount Forest, ruckers are expected to travel the next day to the Elora Legion. The march is set to conclude with a 4pm ceremony on Sept. 19 at the Guelph Legion.

Ruck 2 Remember, a non-profit supporting veterans and first responders, runs the annual Road to Recovery.

It began in 2013 with a march from Hamilton to Parry Sound, with ruckers carrying engraved bricks bearing the names of those who died in Afghanistan.
Now the march raises money for Leave the Streets Behind, a Legion program providing permanent housing to homeless veterans.

Registration fees go toward the program, marchers fundraise, and donations are accepted online.

The march has raised at least $1 million for the program, according to Ruck 2 Remember.

Moore, who served a three-year term as Royal Canadian Legion’s Ontario Command president and focused on Leave the Streets Behind during his time, said the program has housed 1,396 veterans as of Aug. 1, including 165 women and 99 whole families, in 223 Ontario communities.

This year’s Road to Recovery fundraising goal is $250,000.

The event runs with in-person and virtual options through Eventbrite.

Full, four-day registration is $50 and comes with a challenge coin (a medallion honouring the achievement). The final leg of the march – around 22km from Elora to Guelph – is free to join.

There is also a virtual registration option requiring a 150km march across 30 days in September with a minimum weight requirement. The virtual option costs $25.
Registration details and links can be found by visiting ruck2remember.com.