MUSKEGON, Mich. — A West Michigan organization is holding a rucking event to help raise money to provide injured veterans with a service animal.
The Ruff Ruck Challenge will be held on Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. at The Wonderland Distilling Co.
The goal of the challenge is for participants to walk 12 miles in under three hours while carrying 35-50 lbs on their backs. The task is meant to mirror the Army Ranger Ruck Test, symbolizing the strength and dedication of those who have served the nation.
The event came about after its founder, Tony Laskowicz, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, went rucking for 20 miles to raise enough money for his employee's service dog to get life-saving surgery.
Laskowicz went live on Facebook for the whole 20 miles until enough money was raised and it sparked a desire to create something bigger.
Now in its second year open to the public, people can take part in the challenge either as an individual, or as a team with 100lbs distributed among four people.
People can also take part in the Freedom Walk, where they're free to walk without weights and complete the course how they choose, while still supporting the cause.
"We have a Donately page where people can sign up as an individual or as a team and then what happens from there is they try to reach different levels," said Jessie Wilde, a co-organizer for the Ruff Ruck and a marketer for the West Michigan K9 Foundation. "$3,000 pays for a puppy. $12,000 pays for that puppy's training."
The puppies are trained at the West Michigan K9 Foundation, which looks to provide injured veterans with service animals for no cost. The dogs are then given to veterans who have either applied or have been nominated, who are given one-on-one training as well.
"We pay for all of their training," said Wilde. "We pay for everything from their dog toys, to their vet bills, to the kennels, the foster families to get food, everything covered."
Sheannon McDonald first took part in the Ruff Ruck last year after her husband, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, passed away on Memorial Day Weekend 2023. She raised enough money to provide two veterans with support animals.
McDonald said she got involved to provide other veterans with the same support she and her husband received from their dogs.
"Our veterans are way overlooked. You know, I look back at my story and my husband, and I didn't know his battles, not many of us did, but our dogs saw it every day," said McDonald. "I think in the long run, as sad as it was, they helped him for quite a while, and I think these dogs are really, really, really needed."
She also spoke on the impact service animals can have on veterans who experience mental health complications and the way they help veterans rejoin their communities.
"A lot of these veterans, I mean, they can't even leave their house. These animals help them rehabilitate, possibly get off meds if they're medicated, going to appointments and they just kind of bring them back out into society," said McDonald.
"It's not just a dog for these people. It's a lifeline," said Wilde. "Whether it's emotional or mobility challenges, whatever it is, it really is life-changing."
Information on registration and making donations for The Ruff Ruck can be found here.