On February 3, 2013, sixteen Air Commandos and friends will begin a seven day journey in which they will be rucking 450 miles from Hurlburt Field, FL to MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. Additionally, two more commandos will begin their ascent of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. Both the march and climb are being orchestrated to raise $50,000 for The Special Operations Warrior Foundation and to honor the five Air Commandos that fell in the line of duty in 2012, including Nick and the crew of Ratchet 33.
Their route will take them along Highway 98, (old 98 and 30A for a short stretch) through the communites of Ft Walton Beach, Destin, Sandestin, Watercolor, Seaside, Alys Beach, Grayton, Panama City Beach, Mexico Beach, Port St Joe, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, Carabelle, Perry, turning onto route 19 towards Cross City, Fanning Springs, Chiefland, Otter Creek, Inglis, Crystal River, Homosassa Springs. Their second to last leg will take them on highway 41 passing through Brooksville, Masaryktown, Wilson Heights, Trojantown, and finally into Tampa. If you’re in the area cheer them on, or join them in rucking for a mile.
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation has been devoted to providing a college education to every child who has lost a parent serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps during an operational or training mission under the U.S. Special Operations Command. It is with this Foundation that a memorial fund was established in Nick’s honor at the time of his funeral.
For updates, follow the Air Commandos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Air-Commando-Ruckers/274979869218743 or on twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/AirCommandoRuck . If you’re interested in supporting their efforts with a donation, please visit http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/Aircommandoruckclimb/aircommandoruckclimb
