Ruck: A military term, to hike or march, long distances with a fully loaded pack.
On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Lt. Aaron Niles of 16 Wing at CFB Borden will embark on a ‘Ruck’, a march while carrying a pack weighing 30 lbs. from the 16 Wing HQ to the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre at RVH. A 30-kilometre trek to raise funds in support of patient care at RVH.
To show your support of Lt. Niles and his ‘Ruck for a Cure’ and to donate in support of the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre. Please use the donation form below.
Please note: this effort is a personal fundraising effort conceived, organized and led by Lt. Aaron Niles to benefit regional cancer care and 100% of the funds raised will be donated in support of patient care at RVH and the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.
About Lt. Niles
“In September 2010 my little brother was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After receiving treatment for 3 years at Sick Kids hospital, the doctors said there was nothing else they could do and gave him approximately 30 days to live. As a last resort, they gave him a form of chemotherapy that he had never received which managed to “trick” his body into fighting his cancer further and enabled a successful bone marrow transplant. He is still alive to this day due to their efforts. Not everyone is as fortunate and I want to raise funds so that the RVH Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre has more resources to enable better treatment and to let everyone know that cancer affects us all in a unique way and that we can carry the burden together.”
– Lt. Aaron Niles
In honour of his little brother’s cancer journey and the 30-day diagnosis he received. Lt. Niles will carry the 30 lbs. rucksack and along the way, he will be wearing the name tags of those at 16 Wing who have been impacted by cancer. At any point in his journey, members of 16 Wing can join Lt. Niles and carry the ruck. As Lt. Niles says, “We all carry the burden of those affected by cancer. We carry their memories and their loss. But it is a burden that can be shared”. The ruck and name tags are symbols of this burden. While RVH does not treat paediatric cancer, Lt. Niles is passionate about raising funds in support of regional cancer care.
