‘Ruck It Up for Mental Health’ is a charity raising money for Journey to Hope Moose Jaw, and helps support Journey to Hope in providing suicide awareness and prevention training, grief support, and mental health first aid. 

This will be the fourth year for Ruck It Up, and pre-registration has just opened for the main event: Saturday, June 1st at the Rotary Pavilion in Wakamow Valley. Registration and race packet pick-up begins at 8:15 a.m., and the actual 5 km ruck kicks off at 9 a.m. 

It costs $40 to register as an adult, and $20 for youth 18 and under. Participants who register before May 5 will receive a free t-shirt.  

All proceeds from Ruck It Up stay local to support Journey to Hope programming. Over $20,000 has been raised to date. 

“Rucking is basically walking with a weighted rucksack — AKA a backpack,” explained Brett Hagan. Hagan co-founded the event with friends Chris Robart and Tyler Simpson, and the trio are still the primary organizers.  

“(Rucking) implies action, energy, and purpose. Rucking requires strength, endurance, and character, and it also builds it. For our event, for those that don't struggle with mental health, the carrying of the rucksack represents the burden that many in our community do (carry).” 

Hagan said that opening registration is just the start of preparing for Ruck It Up. He, Robart, and Simpson are still contacting sponsors, sourcing items for their Penny Parade, signing up volunteers, and organizing the afternoon youth walk on Thursday, May 30. 

“Last year, we had our first afternoon Ruck It Up with students from both school divisions,” explained Hagan, who is also a Prairie South school board trustee. “This year, we’re going to be doing it again. ... Right now, we’ve got three (classes) signed up, one from Sacred Heart, one from St. Margaret’s, and the grade 9 to 12 students from Mortlach are going to be joining us. 

“We’re hoping to get one more. We definitely had a really good showing last year, and ended up having two or three kids from the youth walk come with their parents to the main event on the Saturday, which is kind of the whole goal of seeing the kids getting outside and getting some fitness.” 

Two members of the Moose Jaw Police Service — in full gear — joined the ruck march in 2023. Ruck It Up organizers have invited more first responders this year, including Medavie Health Services West paramedics and the Moose Jaw Fire Department. 

Rucking was inspired by the military, and Hagan said it’s important to recognize that military service, law enforcement careers, and other emergency response professions all have their own mental health journeys to navigate. 

“This is just for us to get them out there and honour them for what they do for us,” he added. 

Registration for the event is through RaceRoster. Ruck It Up can also be followed on Facebook, and any questions can be sent to ruckitupmj@gmail.com.  

To learn about suicide prevention and awareness, mental health first aid, and suicide grief support, visit Journey to Hope Moose Jaw at journeytohope.synthasite.com.