MORE than 400 people have already signed up to get down and dirty for charity at the muckiest event in Northern Ireland.
Back by popular demand, the McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Mud Madness race is taking place on Sunday April 14 at Foymore Lodge in Portadown and will see thousands of pounds raised for Marie Curie Cancer Care, the official charity partner of the event.
Competitors will run, crawl and belly-flop their way across four and half miles of bogs and ponds, under cargo nets and through water sprays and muddy trenches. Last year’s wacky race saw 1,000 participants taking part and event organiser Johnny Davis is looking forward to welcoming this year’s runners.
“McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Mud Madness is the ultimate off-road challenge and is one of its kind in Northern Ireland with participants racing through the muckiest fields, bogs and ponds in the country,” he said.
“Each year we try to make the event even bigger and better than before with an improved course and new obstacles, so I am really looking forward to designing this year’s course.
“We’ve had so much interest already for the race from friends and family of previous participants and at last year’s race we had competitors from as far afield as the United States and Germany.
“Mud Madness attracts all kinds of people so if you’re looking for a fun day out or if you want to challenge yourself then make sure you sign-up, I promise it will be a muddy good day out.”
Tim McAuley, NI account manager for McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes, is delighted to sponsor the race again this year.
“We have been supporting Mud Madness for the past four years and we are delighted to be the sponsors for 2013,” he said.
“The race is a great fit for the brand as Jaffa Cakes are well known for re-fuelling athletes and make a popular half-time snack. They’re high in carbohydrates, have one gram of fat per biscuit and taste great so they are perfect for this muddy, fun-filled event.
“Marie Curie Cancer Care will be this year’s official charity partner again so I hope the runners taking part will also go that extra mile to help raise vital funds for the charity.”
Suzy McIlveen, Marie Curie Cancer Care’s regional fundraising events manager for Northern Ireland, says the race is one of her favourite events of the year.
“We’ve been involved with Mud Madness for the last couple of years and it is one of our most exciting and popular fundraising initiatives,” she said.
“Last year we raised over £11,000 in funds and I hope that the runners will help us raise even more money this year. I would encourage everyone signing-up to the race to raise as much money as possible, no matter how big or small, as it all goes a long way in helping to support Marie Curie Cancer Care in Northern Ireland.
“Our charity provides high quality nursing care, totally free, to give people with terminal cancer and other illnesses the choice of dying at home, supported by their families so your fundraising money will certainly go towards a worthy cause.”
Entry to the McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Mud Madness costs £25. Competitors must be aged 17 or over and can download an entry form or enter online at www.jaffacakesmudmadness.com. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third male and female individuals and teams. There is also a prize for the best fancy dress costume and spot prizes.