ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee chapter of Team Ruckin’ Angel participated in a local ruck relay on October 11 to help Warrior 360, a non-profit which helps veterans with everything “from medical needs to home repair,” according to the group’s website.

The local group is part of a national organization founded this year that describes itself as “a group of awesome Americans that want to help veteran charities across the country,”

In a ruck relay, participants walk or jog over rough terrain while carrying a backpack weighing around 45 pounds.

For the Oct. 11 ruck, the Tennessee Team was made up of 14 strangers, including military spouses and children, who went together to the Clarksville Greenway at 6 a.m. to complete the relay in the dark and rain.

The goal for the team was to reach 36 miles, but they exceeded that with a total of 69.3 miles. Ten of the members did the 5.2 mile round trip route complete with several hills.

One, Zelda Olesen, armed with her daughter Awbrey in a stroller to substitute as her ruck weight, did the four mile round trip flat route along with her son Daniel. Team leader Samantha Knight completed the entire route, rucking the 5.2 route of hills with the rest of the team, going back after to complete a total of 9.3 miles with more than 50 miles on her back. The rest of the team carried close to 50 pounds as well.

The ruck raised a total of $541 for Warrior 360, bringing the Team #Ruckin Angel total to $2,178 raised so far. Donations can still be made here. Team Ruckin’ Angel hopes to raise $15,000 for the project.

Through donations raised by the ruck, Warrior 360 will help the Horton family with several home makeover projects. Eric Horton was with 82nd Airborne and lost both legs at the hip in an IED blast in Iraq.

The rucking team plans to focus on aiding a different event or charity each quarter, including events benefiting the Green Beret Foundation and Pets for Patriots. As of now, the team is funded out of pocket by its founders. The organization hopes to soon have a chapter in every state.

For more information, visit the Team #RuckinAngel Facebook page.