2,500 people scramble their way through JCB Mud Run course to donate massive £55,250 to NSPCC

Mud Run entrants slither and slide to £55,256 NSPCC boost
Mud Run entrants slither and slide to £55,256 NSPCC boost

A bumper field of more than 2,500 people today scrambled and ran their way around JCB’s Mud Run course– delivering a massive cash boost to the NSPCC in Staffordshire.

The 5th annual JCB Mud Run raised an amazing £55,256 – bringing the grand total raised for the charity since the event started in 2012 to more than £230,000.

Entrants flew in from as far afield as Singapore, France, Germany, Spain and Holland.

George Bamford - son of JCB Chairman Lord Bamford - was among the first wave of runners to set off, competing in a special 10km version of the race reserved for 9am starters.

George said: "This is my 4th JCB Mud Run and every year the event just gets better.

"It’s fantastic to see so many people taking part and not only enjoying themselves immensely but raising a fantastic amount of money for the NSPCC as well."

George added: "The JCB Mud Run is a great example of camaraderie, people helping others through the mud – that’s the kind of thing that it embodies.

"It has been amazing this year and it has been great seeing the smiles on people’s faces."

George handed over the cheque to the NSPCC along with Zoe Cooper, 37, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, her brothers Ben and Sam Watts and sister-in-law Jayne Watts.

Zoe’s late husband Andy, who worked for JCB, was a stalwart supporter of the JCB Mud Run, taking part in every event since it started.

He tragically died in a road accident near Rocester in March.

After handing over the cheque, mother-of-three Zoe, Ben, Sam and Jayne were part of a team of more than 30 family and friends who pulled on their running shoes and completed the mud run course in memory of Andy.

Their efforts raised more than £6,300 for mental health charity Mind.

Entrants flew in from as far afield as Singapore, France, Germany, Spain and Holland
Entrants flew in from as far afield as Singapore, France, Germany, Spain and Holland

Zoe said: "The run was brilliant. Everybody was helping each other out.

"I feel I have taken Andy along with me on the run – he has been laughing at us covered in mud.

"It was great to come together and do something so positive in memory of Andy.

"He loved to do the Mud Run and to have so many people taking part was a wonderful tribute to him.

"Andy suffered from mental health issues all his life and to have raised so much money for MIND is amazing and I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us."

The JCB Mud Run has gone from strength to strength since it was first staged in 2012, when 500 people entered.

Today’s field attracted entrants from afar afield as Cornwall, London and the Isle of Man and they slithered and clambered over 35 obstacles over an 8km course on land near JCB’s World Headquarters at Rocester watched by around 7,000 spectators.

The 10km race at 9am gave competitors the chance to qualify for the UK Championships of the Obstacle Course Racing Association (OCRA).

'It has been amazing this year and it has been great seeing the smiles on people’s faces'

Mark Dalkins, 45, of Cheadle, a member Cheadle Running Club, won the OCRA ‘member race.’

He said: "It was a tough run with difficult obstacles. It was my third JCB Mud Run win in the elite wave.

"Two years ago I won the JCB North America Mud Run in Savannah –there’s just as much satisfaction in winning today.

Jason Burgess, 40, from Leek, who won the first two JCB Mud Runs, just missed out on beating Mark.

He said: "We went head to head for the first time and it was a real battle all the way. Mark beat me by two seconds."

The NSPCC is JCB’s nominated charity and the proceeds of the JCB Mud Run will support the work at Carole House in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the charity’s service centre which was set up after JCB and its employees completed a £2 million fundraising campaign.

Carole House is named in honour of Lady Bamford OBE and JCB’s support of the NSPCC over more than 30 years.

Kirsty White, NSPCC Partnership Manager, said: "On behalf of the team at Carole House, I'd like to say a big thank you to JCB for digging deep and hosting the Mud Run as part of their ongoing support for our work with the most vulnerable children in Staffordshire.

"Huge thanks also to all the mud-lovers who have braved this amazing obstacle course and raised vital funds to help keep children safe from harm.”

Mud slides, a 100ft underground tunnel, monkey bars and climbing walls were among the obstacles competitors tackled around the course.

And just to ensure youngsters didn’t miss out, there was also a mini Mud Run course for five to 12-year-olds which proved hugely popular.

Rachael Jordan, 29 and Kate Dale, 31, both of Cheadle dressed in superhero costumes take part in the Mud Run.

Rachael was ‘Wonderwoman’ and Kate was ‘Superwoman’. "We thought the costumes would make it more fun," said Rachael.

"We both like doing the JCB Mud Runs and we thought this particular charity was brilliant."

A group of customers from the Cave Fitness gym in Leek entered dressed in caveman and cavewomen outfits.

Manager Paul Butten said: "We thought the caveman theme would suit the JCB Mud Run perfectly and of course it fits in with our name.

"Our group is made up of me and a colleague plus 28 of our customers. We entered last year and we had such a good time we thought we would try it again."

Two radio presenters did the JCB Mud Run to raise money in memory of a friend who died in a car crash.

The duo, who both work on Moorlands Radio Sports Beat, were raising money for the Kieran Rutter Legacy Fund.

Kieran died following a fatal collision 12 months ago on the road between Leek and Uttoxeter.

Damien Hopkins, of Stoke, said: "There were seven of us running in memory of Kieran. It’s a worthy cause and we all remember him with affection."

Colleague Anthony Knight, also of Stoke, said: "The Mud Run is a worthy local event and we had the extra motivation of raising money for Kieran."

Nine members of Staffordshire Housing Association took part dressed as bees with names like Queen Bee, Zombie Bee and Barbie Bee.

Darren Perry, of Stoke: "We are raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and we were joined by paramedic Sam Robinson who has just come off a 12-hour night shift."

Paul Hudson, a JCB Team Leader in the Loadall Business Unit entered the Mud Run to keep up his fitness after overcoming cancer.

Paul, who battled through Non-Hodgkin lymphoma four years ago, took part alongside seven on his colleagues.

Paul, of Swadlincote, said: “"It was my second time and I have been training hard. It was a great event and a perfect way of keeping my fitness levels up."

Six women from Derby dressed in pink with tutus took part to raise money for the Enthusiasm Trust.

They were led by Tracy Macdonald and Helen Constant, the proprietors of Pink Punch Fitness.

Heather Russo, who works at the Trust, said: "We all train together and we thought it would be great fun.

"The Enthusiasm Trust provides a mentoring service for young people with their first foot in the criminal justice system.

"We encourage the youngsters to take the first step into the unknown away from crime, so we thought we would lead by example and try something new."

Several plane loads of employees from Holland, Italy, France, Germany and Spain flew over to represent VPS in the Mud Run.

"Our company uses JCB Towers extensively and we have come over as a team building exercise," said Jaimy Daeneviel, from Holland.

David Abernethy, 48, flew over from Singapore to join Van Leeuwen colleagues.

He said: "I used to work in the UK and when my colleagues invited me to take part I didn’t hesitate."