Since 2020, men and women have taken a long march on Highway 6 from Lincoln to Omaha to raise awareness and aid for veterans struggling with PTSD and homelessness. While the organization and event have grown exponentially, this August's 50 Mile March will be a first with Papillion's Lexi Ruiz.
"I'm the youngest 50 Mile Marcher," says Lexi, 8, who will join her father, Gabriel Ruiz, as he takes his second long march. "My dad was doing something cool, and I had never heard of something like it, so I'm like, 'Sounds easy, I'll do it!’"
"Sounds easy!?" laughs Gabriel as he listens to Lexi. Gabriel participated in the 2023 march to honor his dad, who served in the Armed Forces. He aims to teach this lifestyle to his children.
"Last year, when she was seven, she asked me to join—and I knew she was going to," says Gabriel. He adds that Lexi often watched, cheered, or participated in his training. After inquiring if an eight-year-old could join, the father-daughter duo is pleased to be a team.
Gabriel explained that they followed the recommended exercise of walking five miles thrice weekly for training. The duo, known as team Prime Time, has also gone greater distances to prove Lexi's mettle.
"We've walked ten miles twice. We've walked 15 miles," Lexi says. "Twelve miles is what we do most of the time."
"I'm extremely proud and extremely humbled," Gabriel reflects on their training. Other adults, some fathers, have noted the young girl's tenacity. "Frankly, she's doing more than what some adults are doing to help others. It's not always sunshine and rainbows, but she's a tough kid."
The training has already paid off. Prime Time succeeded in the qualifying march, having rucked 15 miles with a pack and performed the required calisthenics. The 50 Mile March Foundation is thrilled to have the father and daughter join the cause.
"I have gone out walking with them quite frequently," says the foundation's executive director, Brianne Schuler. "She has lots of energy."
Schuler says this year's marching group is the largest yet, growing from six people in 2020 to 162 qualifiers for the 2024 march in August, with marchers as young as eight and as old as 75.
"I think it's really great our participants reflect the diversity of those in the Omaha community."
The foundation, which Schuler refers to as a movement, builds on that community to create a system of support. This year's march will provide grants to assist veterans and build a tiny home community and community center for homeless veterans.
Schuler says steps have been taken to ensure Lexi’s and all of the marchers' safety.
"The safety and the health and wellbeing of our walkers is paramount," she says. "As far as individual walkers, Lexi will be cleared by her health professionals before walking."
"We're not walking lonely on Highway 6, but in conjunction with a group of people," says Gabriel. This march is monitored with many rest stops and checkpoints and runs over 22 hours; the number of hours chosen represents the tragic statistic of 22 veterans taking their lives each day by suicide.
In addition to raising that awareness, Gabriel and Lexi are set to fundraise as much as possible, setting the goal of $10,000 for team Prime Time. Overall, Schuler says this year's collective goal is to raise $1.5 million, three times what was raised last year.
"Everyone is going to carry a part of that, but I think it's inspirational for those who've turned it into nearly a full-time job, and Gabriel and Lexi have been that," she says. "Our founder, Jay Miralles, loves to say there's a difference between being interested and being committed."
As for Lexi, her mind is set on doing good and doing well in the 50 Mile March.
"If you say you're going to do it, it's a commitment," she says. "So if you say you're gonna do it, you do it."
Donations can be made up to and even past Operation Noble Watchmen, the march set for August 24-25. Those interested in supporting the march through Team Prime Time can give online at givebutter.com/OperationNobleWatchman2024/prime-time-ruiz/lexiruiz.
More information on the 50 Mile March and its foundation can be found at 50milemarch.org.
"If you say you're gonna do it, you do it." Lexi Ruiz
"I'm extremely proud and extremely humbled," Gabriel Ruiz