I am honored to be participating in the 10th Annual RUCK4HIT on Cape Cod! This incredible adventure relay brings together teams of dedicated individuals who will run over 200 miles through all 15 Cape Cod towns, starting this year at the Cape Cod Fair Grounds. Our mission? To raise awareness and funds for Heroes In Transition (HIT), an organization that provides critical support to active duty service members, veterans, and their families.

My journey with RUCK4HIT started three years ago when I volunteered as part of the Physical Therapy Team, helping participants stay healthy throughout the event. Witnessing their unwavering perseverance and grit, I couldn’t ignore the feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out). That experience led me to take on a bigger role as a training coordinator, developing a 16-week cross-training and injury prevention program to help participants elevate their performance. Naturally, this all evolved into me recruiting and captaining my own team, “Oh Deer, Why Are We Here?”, and actually rucking this thing myself—30 miles with a 10lb rucksack on my back! I thought I was only going to do this once but I'm ready to do this again with some returning and new team members.

The "deer" in our team name is a tribute to my late husband, SSG Kurt Keller, an avid hunter who had a deer tattoo on his chest that he wore with pride. And the reason I am rucking is for him. His sacrifice, the invisible wounds he carried, and his ultimate battle with PTSD, which led to his suicide 18 years ago, are a powerful reminder of the struggles our military members and veterans face.

This year is even more meaningful for me as I take on RUCK4HIT not only as a participant but as HIT’s new Fundraising & Events Manager. The services HIT provides today were not available when Kurt and I returned home from Iraq, but I am deeply committed to making sure they are there for others who need them now. HIT is truly a beacon of hope for those who have served, and I have dedicated myself to this mission—to ensure that no service member, veteran, or military family feels alone in their struggles.

Your support makes a difference! Whether it’s a small donation or a generous contribution, every dollar counts. By donating, you become part of our team, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us as we ruck for this incredible cause. Thank you for being part of this journey—your generosity and encouragement mean the world to me.

With gratitude,

Meghan