Ruck Cancer Walk/Run
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Event overview
The Professional Fire Fighters of Chesapeake, IAFF Local 2449, will hold the 12th Annual Mustache March Madness and the 3rd Annual RUCK Cancer Walk/Run on March 21, 2026. The event location for 2026 is Bells Mill Park, 424 Albemarle Dr., Chesapeake, VA 23322. The entry fee is $45 and includes a custom RUCK Cancer race T-shirt and a post-ruck cookout provided by the Kiwanis Club of Chesapeake. Registrants must register by 2/21/2026 to be guaranteed a race T-shirt.
Format and logistics
The RUCK offers two course distances:
- 5K
- 10K
Participants are encouraged to wear a ruck sack or a 35-pound weighted vest. The organizers also provide thirty-five CFD SCBA units for use by participants who reserve them in advance. No ruck or SCBA is required to take part; walking the course without added weight is allowed. Prizes are offered for 1st place overall male and female in the 10K RUCK when wearing a SCBA, a 35-pound weighted vest, or a 35-pound ruck sack. Additional prizes are offered for 1st place male and female in the 10K RUCK when specifically wearing a 35-pound ruck sack.
Cause and background
Mustache March Madness began in 2014 to raise funds for firefighters and their families affected by cancer. Since 2024, the RUCK event has had 437 participants and donated $27,600 to 19 firefighter families across Hampton Roads. Sponsors and local organizations support the event and the fundraising efforts. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
