What:    12km Ruck march around Bowling Green, KY
Who:     US Military Veterans and Their Supporters
When:   08:30 AM (central time) Sat Morning, Nov 4
Where: La Gala Event Venue (601 State St, Bowling Green, KY 42101)
Why:     Last year’s Resilience Ruck 2022 raised $20,000 for the Veterans Club of Kentucky. This year’s event at La Gala will benefit:
– Warren County, KY Sheriff Brett Hightower’s Kentucky Wounded Heroes charity (https://kentuckywoundedheroes.net/),
– the Warriors Heart Addiction and PTSD Treatment Center (https://www.warriorsheart.com/), and
– The Special Operations Care Fund (https://soc-f.org/)

How to Participate and Register Support: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-resilience-ruck-registration-673682672007

The Resilience Ruck (https://resilienceruck12k.squarespace.com/) has added Warren County Sheriff Brett Hightower’s Kentucky Wounded Heroes (https://kentuckywoundedheroes.net/who-we-are/) to the list of beneficiaries for this year’s return event to be held Sat morning, Nov 4, 2023 at La Gala in downtown Bowling Green.  This year’s 12k (signifying the 12 steps of recovery) ruck march is all about supporting veterans exemplifying the ability to withstand, recover and grow from adversity.

The Resilience Ruck planning committee, chaired by Erica Hildreth (Mrs. Kentucky), has developed the following information for potential sponsors:

– Sponsors will receive prominent recognition in all event promotions, both online and offline. This includes social media shout-outs, logo placement on event banners and marketing materials, and mentions during event announcements.  Various sponsorship tiers are offered to suit your budget and preferences. By becoming a sponsor, you’ll demonstrate your commitment to our Veterans and gain exposure to a diverse audience.  Local VFW Post 1298 has signed on to serve as a Bronze Sponsor for this year’s Resilience Ruck: https://resilienceruck12k.squarespace.com/sponsorship

– “Swag Bag” Participation: Contributing items to event swag bags is another excellent way to showcase your brand. Your promotional materials or exclusive offers can be included in these bags, which will be distributed to all attendees. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a lasting impression on eventgoers and ensure that your brand remains top-of-mind even after the event concludes.

– Giveaway Donations: Giveaway items that will be raffled or distributed during the event every 30 minutes. By donating a giveaway item, you’ll attract attention to your brand and create a sense of excitement among attendees. Your contribution will be acknowledged during the giveaway segments, giving you valuable exposure.

– Sponsor youth/student ruck marchers: This year, the Resilience Ruck is offering a steeply discounted Youth/Student participation rate of $25 (plus $3.52 processing fee charged by Event Brite).  Local high school JROTC and Civil Air Patrol cadets as well as pre-enlistment Marine Corps “poolees” and WKU ROTC cadets & student veterans are being recruited as participants. Despite the discounted rate, sponsorships for individual participants may be needed and would certainly be appreciated in order to maximize participation from “cash poor” students. For example: American Legion Post 23 in Bowling Green has tentatively pledged to sponsor 20x USMC poolees to participate.

The Resilience Ruck is overwhelmed with excitement to announce the recipient of our first ever Resilience Award: Bowling Green Police Officer Matt Davis.

Matt will be attending #theresilienceruck and sharing his story of heroism and resiliency.  He is an accomplished individual with a diverse range of experiences in both law enforcement and the military. He graduated from Western Kentucky University (WKU) in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Criminology. He began his career as a police cadet and intern at the Bowling Green Police Department (BGPD) and was eventually hired as a police officer on June 20, 2005. Matt Davis currently holds the rank of Master Police Officer (MPO) and has served in the police force for 18 years. He has received much recognition along the way for his outstanding work including being named the BGPD Officer of The Year in 2007, BGPD Life Saving award twice for his efforts in saving lives, and earned the BGPD Medal of Honor in 2007 following his involvement in an officer-involved shooting incident.

Not only is he an outstanding officer but also a veteran. Matt enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard in February 2015, undergoing boot camp at the age of 32, and holds the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 68W: Combat Medic. He has served in the 206th Engineer Battalion located in Owensboro, KY and was deployed to Iraq from 2019 to 2020 as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. While deployed, Matt held the role of Senior Medic during his deployment, overseeing 16 other combat medics and supervising two aid stations in Kuwait and Iraq.

Matt Davis’s journey showcases his commitment to both law enforcement and military service, as well as his dedication to training, leadership, saving lives and balancing his professional life with being a dedicated father to three boys: Mason, Bryce, and Case, aged 15, 13, and 8. We are proud to honor him now with The Resilience Award.