Celebration Planned for 10th Annual Ruck4HIT Finish on Saturday, April 26th

April 15, 2025 (Cape Cod, MA) – When the inaugural Ruck4HIT was held in 2016, it featured one team of 12 runners and 4 drivers who rucked 41 hours, from Ground Zero in New York City to Falmouth. As the event prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary when it kicks off in the early morning of April 25th from Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth, it will look significantly different than the first iteration.

Ruck4HIT now features roughly 250 participants who travel from all over the country to spend 36 hours pushing themselves mentally, physically, and emotionally, all to support the work of Heroes In Transition (HIT), a Mashpee-based nonprofit which serves over 2,000 individuals through 15 programs that provide assistance to service members, veterans, and military families in the region.

Funds raised from Ruck4HIT go directly to support Heroes In Transition’s work. Donations to Ruck4HIT can be made at http://ruck4hit.org/.

“The Ruck4HIT is an incredibly inspiring event that embodies what it means to be a community and demonstrates the importance of giving back,” said HIT Executive Director Silene Gordon. “We invite everyone to this event and to join us at Cape Cod Fairgrounds on April 26th as we celebrate each of the 20 teams crossing the finish line and their commitment to supporting a cause greater than themselves.”

Among the changes to this year’s ruck is the start and finish are both taking place at Cape Cod Fairgrounds, a bigger venue that will allow the public to experience the finish-line celebration and see what makes the race so unique.

Taking place on Saturday, April 26th, 10 am to 3 pm, the celebration will include music by Cheryl Atherton, also known as Sister Spin. Clarence Barnes, a seasoned actor, news anchor, entertainment reporter, and radio host, who is currently on iHeart’s 103.7 FM in San Francisco, is joining this year’s race as the finish line announcer.

There will be an inflatable obstacle course provided by the U.S. Army; pony rides offered by Alliance Equestrian Center; a Touch-A-Truck experience through Capewide Construction in Mashpee; cornhole provided by Cape Cod Cornhole; an array of food trucks, including Junior Betts BBQ, SWAT Culinary Assault Vehicle, Lobster Trap, Ella’s Wood Fired Kitchen, Cape Cones, Veterans Lunch Box, and Adobo Republic; and much more.

“When I look at where this event started to where it is now, it is remarkable to see the size, scope, impact, and growth of the Ruck4HIT over the past 10 years,” said former HIT Executive Director Nicole Spencer who helped create the Ruck4HIT with Army Reservist Ray Regan. “I’m so proud to see that growth because it will benefit more veterans, service members, and military families in our region.”

Spencer is a co-chair, along with HIT Board Vice President Savannah Fabbio, of the Ruck4HIT Organizing Committee. Several individuals who were a part of the first Ruck4HIT have continued their involvement, including Kristen and John Alexander of Florida, Kyle Takakjian of Chatham, and Alycia Markowski of Mashpee.

There are 20 teams participating in the 10th Annual Ruck4HIT, including ones from the Falmouth Police Department; Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office; RideAway Adventures; Shipwrecked in Falmouth Heights; first responders from Chatham; RogersGray Insurance; and Quench Training for Women in Hyannis.

Each team has a minimum of 7 ruckers, 2 drivers, and 2 support runners. Participants will run a 2- to 4-mile leg, wearing a 10- to 20-pound rucksack, before switching off with a teammate. The rucksack is symbolic of the burdens our military and veterans carry in service to our country. In total, each runner will ruck anywhere from 25 to 30 miles over the course of 36 hours.

The relay race crosses through every town on Cape Cod with two team challenges. One is at the halfway point with teams climbing the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown. The second takes place at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Chatham.

This year’s participants not only hail from towns throughout Cape Cod, but Greater Boston, Central Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, Hawaii, and Alaska.

The motto of the Ruck4HIT is “4 Those Who Can’t,” and this year, the event has its own song, created using AI by Andrew White, a certified personal trainer at FitPlan Cape Cod in Mashpee. The song, which is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and HIT’s YouTube channel, was released on the inaugural Capt. Eric Jones Day on April 12th, the birthday of Marine Captain Eric A. Jones.

Jones was a helicopter pilot who died at the age of 29 in October 2009 while flying a combat mission in Afghanistan. His parents, Cyndy and the late Kenneth Jones, formed HIT to honor Eric’s life, service, and sacrifice.

This year’s Ruck4HIT is being sponsored by Capewide Construction; Falmouth Road Race; RogersGray; Jannell Ford of Hanover; Rogers & Marney Builders; Cape Cod Retractable Awning; The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod; Eversource; Cape Cod 5; Arbella Insurance Foundation; Independent Painting Company; CMS Landscape; Plymouth IV Lounge & Aesthetics; All Star Healthcare Solutions; Bob’s Discount Furniture; The Lanes Bowl & Bistro; Mashpee Pops; George & Betty Dutton Foundation; Brabo Payroll; Hot Yoga 1620; and Lighthouse Keepers.

About Heroes In Transition (HIT)
Founded in 2009 following the death of U.S. Marine Captain Eric A. Jones, Heroes In Transition (HIT) is now in its 16th year. The Mashpee-based nonprofit provides support to veterans, service members, and military families that is not readily available through other organizations. Its services include a Families In Transition (FIT) and veterans equine therapy program; financial assistance; fishing excursions; bimonthly outings for military couples; a REBOOT/REGROUP health and wellness program for veterans, service members, and spouses; and an annual Spring and Fall Couples Retreat. To learn more about HIT, visit www.heroesintransition.org.