JCB Mud Run raises more than £50,000
Record 2,700 participants take on annual challenge to raise funds for the NSPCC in Staffordshire
A RECORD field of 2,700 people crawled, climbed and splashed their way around a gunge-filled course to take on the challenge of the 3rd Annual JCB Mud Run. Participation was nearly treble that of last year’s event with competitors coming from all over the UK and beyond for the fun endurance event.
Ingeniously designed obstacles such as a 100ft rope climb and underground tunnels were combined with natural terrain – including woods, rivers, inclines and peat – for the five-mile course on land owned by JCB in Staffordshire.
But no amount of mud could take the shine off the £50,127 raised by participants for the NSPCC in Staffordshire. JCB have recently completed a £2 million fund-raising campaign which has helped to pay for the charity’s new service centre, Carole House, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
A cheque was presented to NSPCC representatives by George Bamford (left of picture), son of JCB chairman Lord Bamford.
George who took part in the JCB Mud Run for the second year running, said: ‘What a fantastic event and what great camaraderie – the best I’ve ever seen. Everyone was helping one another to get over the obstacles and to get through the mud and water.
‘I can’t believe so many people have turned out – 2,700 is an incredible number. And I’m so proud of what we have been able to raise for the NSPCC. It’s a staggering total. Well done to everyone.’
NSPCC Stoke-on-Trent Service Centre manager Pete Turgoose said: ‘Thanks so much to everyone at JCB for making this event possible. This is the third Mud Run and JCB has evidently tapped into something that people love!
‘Getting filthy, having fun and doing some phenomenal fund-raising is a perfect combination and we know that every pound raised will go towards helping us run vital support services for local children.’
The first team across the line included Mark Dalkins, of Cheadle, Staffordshire, who notched up an incredible double. Two weeks earlier he was in Savannah, Georgia, where he also won the JCB North America Mud Run.
London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer Dave Allen, who works for JCB as a sales manager, was crowned the JCB Mud Run winner in the individual race with a time of 38 minutes and 53 seconds.
