Seeing his two-year-old son’s enthusiasm for reading inspired Lansing attorney Nolan Erickson to find a way to get more books into the hands of Lansing-area kids. Thus, the birth of Lansing’s first “Ruck for Reading” hike, a community event in which participants donate books and hike along the Lansing River Trail to the Capital Area District Library in downtown Lansing, where the books are delivered.

The city’s inaugural Ruck for Reading event occurred this past August. A group of hikers met Erickson at the Turner Dodge House where the hike began.

Erickson said he combined his son’s love for reading with his love for hiking as a way to give back to the community and enrich the lives of children. Using “ruck” to refer to “hiking under a load with a purpose,” he said he also wanted to promote fitness and an appreciation for Lansing.

More than a dozen hikers participated in the event, including Erickson’s Church Wyble, PC colleagues David Mittleman and Kate Mortensen. The group carried nearly 150 books, donated by the hikers and other community members who could not join the hike.

Nolan said he would love to do it again and invited interested parties to contact him at nerickson@churchwyble.com.

For additional information, visit the Ruck for Reading event page on Facebook. If you would like to make a donation directly to the Capital Area District Library, visit www.cadl.org or call (517) 367-6300.

—Eisha Vatsal, Robert Mathis, and Lynn Ingram contributed to this story.