Samantha Hamilton

Samantha Hamilton, Firefighter
Concord, Massachusetts
Competitive Tough Ruck History:
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Donate today to support Ashley’ Tough Ruck mission:
https://runsignup.com/721

For Samantha Hamilton, Tough Ruck is the kind of challenge that mirrors real life: show up, shoulder the weight, and do the work alongside your team.

A firefighter with the Concord Fire Department, Samantha has become a familiar face in Tough Ruck Nation over the years – returning again and again to honor America’s fallen military and first responders and to raise funds for the Military Friends Foundation.

Her ruck tells the story before she ever takes a step. In 2023, she carried a pack decorated with ribbons and photos honoring the fallen, including the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11, along with names and faces connected to her own community and to the people who support her fundraising.

In 2023, Samantha placed first in her category (female first responders) for the second year in a row – completing the 26.2-mile course while carrying a heavy weight, and then heading straight to the firehouse for an overnight shift.

But her “why” goes deeper than any finish time.

Samantha speaks often about the role of teamwork and resilience in the fire service – that everything is done together, for the betterment of the community – and that staying physically and mentally prepared is part of the job. Those values are exactly what Tough Ruck represents: a shared effort, built on purpose, that keeps names alive and supports families who continue carrying the weight long after the ceremony ends.

In 2024, a powerful moment captured that spirit: Samantha met on the course with the family of late Concord Fire Captain William “Bill” Noke, honoring him with his photo and a ribbon on her rucksack – a reminder that behind every name is a family, a department, and a legacy worth carrying forward.

For Samantha, Tough Ruck is service in motion – one mile at a time, one name at a time, together.

Samantha Hamilton, Firefighter
Concord, Massachusetts
Competitive Tough Ruck History:
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Donate today to support Ashley’ Tough Ruck mission: 
https://runsignup.com/721

For Samantha Hamilton, Tough Ruck is the kind of challenge that mirrors real life: show up, shoulder the weight, and do the work alongside your team.

A firefighter with the Concord Fire Department, Samantha has become a familiar face in Tough Ruck Nation over the years – returning again and again to honor America’s fallen military and first responders and to raise funds for the Military Friends Foundation. 

Her ruck tells the story before she ever takes a step. In 2023, she carried a pack decorated with ribbons and photos honoring the fallen, including the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11, along with names and faces connected to her own community and to the people who support her fundraising. 

In 2023, Samantha placed first in her category (female first responders) for the second year in a row – completing the 26.2-mile course while carrying a heavy weight, and then heading straight to the firehouse for an overnight shift. 

But her “why” goes deeper than any finish time.

Samantha speaks often about the role of teamwork and resilience in the fire service – that everything is done together, for the betterment of the community – and that staying physically and mentally prepared is part of the job. Those values are exactly what Tough Ruck represents: a shared effort, built on purpose, that keeps names alive and supports families who continue carrying the weight long after the ceremony ends.

In 2024, a powerful moment captured that spirit: Samantha met on the course with the family of late Concord Fire Captain William “Bill” Noke, honoring him with his photo and a ribbon on her rucksack – a reminder that behind every name is a family, a department, and a legacy worth carrying forward. 

For Samantha, Tough Ruck is service in motion – one mile at a time, one name at a time, together.