A record-breaking – and capacity – field of 3,000 squirmed and splashed their way to a £70,042 charity total by taking on the challenge of the 6th annual JCB Mud Run.
Competitors scrambled over more than 35 obstacles, including monkey bars and water pits, on a specially-created 8-kilometre course, doused with one million litres of water, built on land near to JCB’s World Headquarters, in Rocester, Staffs.
It means that a grand total of £300,000 has been raised for the NSPCC in Staffordshire in six years since the JCB Mud Run started in 2012 – when it attracted a field of 500 entrants.
The proceeds of the event supports the work at Carole House in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the NSPCC’s service centre which was set up after JCB and its employees completed a £2 million fundraising campaign.
JCB Chairman Lord Bamford was there to fire the starting gun for the first race in which his son, George, took part. Afterwards, George presented a cheque for the proceeds to the NSPCC and said: “What an amazing total has been raised and what a fantastic day. I really enjoyed running the course with my wife, son and daughter. It really is the best one ever. To see how far this event has come in just six years is incredible and makes me very proud. But even though there are so many people here taking part we haven’t lost the fun and family atmosphere and that’s what makes it special.”
Camilla Wood, NSPCC Partnership Manager, who accepted the cheque said: “We are overwhelmed by the effort and commitment of the JCB team and mud runners today. On behalf of the NSPCC team at Carole House, I’d like to say a big thank you to JCB for putting on a fantastic Mud Run as part of their on-going support for our work with the most vulnerable children in Staffordshire. We are extremely grateful to everyone who braved the amazing obstacle course and raised vital funds to help keep children safe from abuse.”
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