Perkasie Rotary member Steven Dale is on a mission to ruck 24 hours in Bucks County for Vets for Vets
Podcast: Media4good101 · Delaware Valley University Reporting Class Spotlights Steven Dale Rucks 4 Bucks
Story by: Reporting students at Delaware Valley University
For Steven Dale, the most rewarding moment lies at the finish line.
The “don’t quit” mentality he embraces gets him through 24-hours of nonstop rucking, trekking for miles and miles with a 30-pound loaded backpack along the streets of Bucks County.
It’s a mindset that extends far beyond the miles he’ll cover on foot —a lesson in pushing past the pain, he said.
Dale, a 44-year-old Sellersville man, trains all year for his Annual Ruck 4 Bucks to help raise money for Vets for Vets, an organization that helps support veterans with home repair, yard maintenance, and other needs. Dale and his Ruck 4 Bucks campaign expect to achieve a lifetime goal of 80 miles this year within 24 hours, starting on May 17. Last year he reached 76 miles.
“People don’t understand you don’t have to go fast,” Dale said. “It’s about the weight it’s about inclines. It really really just kinda beats your body down until you get stronger.”
He recalls his most challenging moment in the annual fundraiser Ruck 4 Bucks: “Two years ago, I was testing out new shoes…. I thought to use a wider toe shoe. It backfired and destroyed my feet, I lost 5 toenails and had bad blisters. And I kept going. My wife and other people told me to stop rucking. But I told myself I was gonna do it. So I had to do it. You want to quit a thousand times, but you have to keep going.”
For Dale, it’s a way to give back to those who have given so much. It’s a way to show his gratitude and support for the veterans who have sacrificed for their country. As he embarks on his 24-hour trek through the streets, roads, and country lanes of Bucks County this May, he carries not just a backpack, but the weight of a cause close to his heart.
“I’ve had other family members in the military, when I was young,” he said. “I didn’t understand how important it was for those people to be in the military and what they do is not always seen as being as important as it is. It made me really want to help support them.”
Dale said, “Hearing them talk about the things they’ve been through and see the things they went through through their eyes, and it’s nothing compared to what we do.”
How his journey began
This annual event started during the pandemic, as a way that Dale could continue his passion, and raise money. He worked with the Perkasie Rotary club to find ways to help the community. Originally the money from his rucking event was donated to Feed the Front Line.
“The first couple of years we actually raised money to feed the front line and we fed volunteers, we fed fire, police, nursing homes, hospitals… I think that year we fed over 600 people.”
As the years went on, he was connected to Vets 4 Vets, and event spokesman Michael Stamps said it will be Dale’s fifth year rucking through Bucks County.
Those who ruck, Dale said, “pack on everything they can for training and they walk for miles and miles; you don’t have to go fast. It just beats your body down but you get stronger. And for me, it’s a time to think, it helps me open up my mind and solve issues I’m dealing with.”
He trains for this throughout the year and follows a strict regimen.
He trains with heavier weights so that the ruck feels lighter when the time comes for the official event, as he treks for 24 hours. The standard for the rucking event is 30lbs, however he trains with 50-75 lbs for the event.
“When I’m training I usually try to carry heavier weight. I have what’s called ruck plates, I have a 20-pound and a 30-pound so when I’m training I carry both. Sometimes I also carry a sandbag on top of that which is another 75 pounds.”
The toughest stretch
When asked what part of the ruck is the hardest part, he said.
“It’s overnight. Through-out the 24-hours, people who will come join me, and they’ll walk with me for a mile…people start dropping off typically around 2 or 3 a.m.”
“It’s the part you want to quit the most,” said Dale.
Yet, plenty of reasons prevent him from stopping.
“Stopping is the worst thing; once you stop, you seize up,” he told a group of reporters, working to write his story at Delaware Valley University.
While many will gather to celebrate and observe those 24 hours, this is a year-long process for Dale, with goals along the way. One objective Dale has set for his 2024 ruck is to ruck 30 miles in one day before the May 17-18 event.
“You want to quit 1,000 times, but you just keep going.” Dale told Delaware Valley University students as he told them what goes through his mind during his annual ruck.
Steven Dale
His recovery period is one of extreme rest. “I make it home and when I do, I have to have help getting up the stairs. I sleep for about 12-13 hours. Then, the next day I get into an epsom salt bath and then an ice bath after that. When it’s all over, I think I can do it all again.”
How to help and Community Celebration
This will be Steven’s 5th year walking in the Ruck 4 Bucks event held by the Perkasie Rotary Club. As Dale continues to prepare for his 2024 ruck, his goal is to raise $20,000 for Vets 4 Vets.
More information on ore Dale’s 2024 “Ruck for Bucks,” can be found on the event page.
A community celebration is planned for the Sellersville Moose on May 18 at 2 p.m. with food, music, and raffles, as people await Steven’s arrival at 7pm, escorted by our Local Service Members to the Finish Line.
There will be activities for kids starting at 2 p.m., a bbq competition, games to play, all you can eat food and beverages served by Vets for Vets and Perkasie Rotary. Music from Mike Guldin and Rollin’ & Tumblin’ will be playing from 5 to 9 p.m.