RUCKTOBER 2026 · CAMPAIGN UPDATE
October’s personal bonus.
The miles are complete. Here’s the extra support you helped unlock.
By Nick ·
Ten days into Rucktober, 12 friends, neighbors, and family members had pledged $1,050.68, carrying us past our original $1,031 first-year goal. Thanks, Mom, for the $1-per-mile pledge that pushed us over the top!
That’s our October 10 snapshot: 42.56 miles completed. See the latest progress.
At that point, the finish condition was still ahead: all 103.1 miles by October 31. So I put a little more of my own money behind the next round of supporters.
Your pledge is capped. My miles aren’t. (My wallet is.)
Read the original October bonus terms
For each new supporter who makes an honor pledge of $10 or more after this update launches and by October 31, 2026, at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific, I’ll add $0.10 for every verified mile I ruck during October 1–31. That includes miles before you joined and miles beyond 103.1.
My total additional contribution has a firm $206.20 limit across all qualifying supporters. Your per-mile pledge still caps at 103.1 miles; flat pledges stay the same. A 10¢-per-mile pledge totals $10.31. Smaller pledges are welcome, but don’t trigger my bonus.
The 103.1-mile finish condition is met. Pledge fulfillment instructions will be sent shortly so supporters can donate directly to YMCA of Orange County. My bonus counts October miles and is finalized after those miles are verified.
One bonus trigger per new pledge email, ignoring capitalization and surrounding spaces. Pre-launch supporters are excluded, except for a pledge received during rollout that I’ve chosen to grandfather in. Repeat pledges never trigger a second bonus; a qualifying signup keeps its one-time trigger even if the donor later withdraws their own pledge.
This is my personal bonus pledge, not a dollar-for-dollar match. It is separate from the donor thermometer and the original $1,031 goal. No payments are collected or charged here.
More people. More support for families.
Donations through YMCA of Orange County’s Annual Campaign support scholarship assistance for Adventure Guides families in the 2026–2027 season and other YMCA programs. YMCA determines eligibility, distributes assistance, and protects each family’s privacy. 100% of donated funds go to the scholarship pool.
Thank you to everyone who backed the miles. New donations are welcome through Thanksgiving weekend, November 29, using the YMCA campaign link on the main page.
My pain, their gain.