On the Sunday before the Boston Marathon this April, 1,000 participants from across the nation will run and walk for 26.2 miles while carrying a weighted backpack called a ruck to honor the fallen first responders and military.
After participating on the Trailblazers United team of four last year, Tony and Jennifer Vargas have ramped up their involvement with the Boston Tough Ruck to now have a team of 27 runners and around 60 sponsors from Peabody and beyond.
Tony Vargas, who also owns Exclusive Hair Design by Tony on 60 Main St., became involved with Tough Ruck as a way to stay physically fit while supporting the families of fallen service members.
His first Tough Ruck was last year, where he carried a 35-pound weight on his back, and received an official Boston Marathon medal and recognition from the Boston Athletic Association.
“We have a lot of police officers here in Peabody volunteering for different things, doing fundraising. I thought, ‘How can I do something that would give back?’ And that inspired me,” Tony Vargas says. “We’re so focused here on health and looking good and feeling good, so this is something that you can train for and stay fit.”
Peabody police officer Henry Breckenridge, who passed away in 2023, was a particularly important inspiration for Tony Vargas to start participating in the run, as his friend’s funeral was paid in full by Tough Ruck Nation.
During this year’s race, Breckenridge’s name will once again be one of the fallen first responders who Tony Vargas will honor by putting a long yellow ribbon with his name on the rucksack.
Those interested can buy a ribbon, which is being printed for free from Evan’s Flowers, for a $50 donation to the Trailblazers United, so the name of their loved one can go on the 26.2-mile trek along with Tony Vargas.
“He’s walking now for everybody, but Henry’s the spirit of it, but we’ve opened it up,” Jennifer Vargas said. “We were asked to make a ribbon for Edward Scott Johansen, the first and only police officer to die in the line of duty in Peabody.”
Last year, the team was able to raise $15,000, an amount that surprised the couple, and they are now aiming for $30,000 this year. Already, they’ve raised $23,547 and are currently the second-highest fundraising team.
Getting an additional 23 people onto the team meant Tony Vargas had to pitch “rucking” to his clients, many of whom are first responders, while he cut their hair.
“It’s just inspiration, I think. Just by me talking about it and they’re like, ‘Whoa, you did what?’” Tony Vargas said. “And they’ve researched that rucking is getting more popular. Even runners are wearing weighted vests, so it’s a fitness motivator for them.”
Three times a week, Tony Vargas has been meeting with his team to train their mental and physical fortitude with a mixture of running, weight training, and functional strength training.
Last Sunday, the team ran a full 15 miles and are planning on doing 20 miles next Sunday, both while using heavier weights than they will during the day of the Tough Ruck.
“You got to be outside and you exercise, and you feel better. It’s something that you can tell the difference when you get out there,” Tony Vargas said. “And then, the calories I burn, I’m expecting to burn at least 2,800 calories that day.”
But, according to him, the hardest part isn’t the training, or even the race itself, it’s all the work needed to reach the fundraising goal.
Stop into the barbershop or visit the Metro Bowl every night the bowling league plays there to see the array of raffle prizes the Vargas’ have set up, and it becomes obvious how much legwork was put in.
“I did hustle. I did burn a lot of gas. Last year we probably had maybe 50 or 60. This year, it definitely grew more with a lot of new people, and there’s people I still need to hit up,” Jennifer Vargas said.
From a ride on a Peabody firetruck, to a dinner with Mayor Ted Bettencourt, to tickets to the North Shore Music Theatre’s production of the Wizard of Oz, it feels as if everyone from the city and more have lent their support to the Vargas’ cause.
There’s also three bigger items, premium Red Sox tickets with a tour of Fenway and access to team practice, behind-the-glass Bruins tickets with a signed puck and team jersey, and an all-day fishing trip with Solitude Fishing Charters run by State Trooper Daniel Campbell in Beverley.
They’ve also organized other fundraising events, like partnering with Amigo’s at the North Shore Mall on Wednesday to donate 20% of all food sales to Tough Ruck Nation, and displaying their raffle items at Shaw’s on Sunday.
Then, on Sunday, Apr. 20, which also happens to be when the 250th anniversary celebration will be taking place in Concord, a serendipitous occurrence which will combine two important events in the state’s history.
“When the bombings happened in 2013, Tough Ruck was there and helped at the finish line. But, they can’t do it there anymore, because they have to wear backpacks, so now they do it in Lexington and Concord,” Jennifer Vargas said. “Just being there and seeing every branch in the military together is a sight that not most people get to see. And I encourage everyone to go and share that.”
