MUD FOR IT!
Thousands of women get Pretty Muddy for cancer
THOUSANDS of women united to get Pretty Muddy in aid of charity Cancer Research UK yesterday.
Mums, nans, daughters, sisters, colleagues and friends turned out at Blackweir Fields in Cardiff to climb over over, crawl under and charge through ropes, tunnels and slides for Cancer Research UK’s Pretty Muddy obstacle course.
The muddy fundraiser is a new addition to Cancer Research’s Race for Life events and aims to raise thousands of pounds for vital research.
The event is open to women and girls over 13, of all fitness levels, and organisers say it’s about “fun, friendship and fundraising”.
Heart FM DJ Nicky Vadera kicked off the event in Cardiff yesterday, telling the women they looked “beautiful but far too clean” before they took part in a mass warm-up ahead of the race.
Demi Price,Price 21,21 from the Rhondda, was one of the women taking part in the event and said she signed up after a number of her family members battled the disease.
“Unless your family has been hit with the devastating news you don’t understand how hard it is,” she said.
“After losing my Nanny and with Nan having it twice, the least I can do is get on that track and do my bit! Let’s help try and find a cure for the horrible disease!”
A number of companies also took part in the event, with female staff members from Right Move, Tesco and Vista Retail Support lacing up their running shoes to tackle the course.
There was also plenty on offer at the event for families supporting on the sidelines, with face painting, a bouncy castle,castle refreshments and entertainment.
One person who was supporting on the sidelines was eight-year-old Crystal Smith, who has neuroblastoma – a rare childhood cancer – and was at the event as her mum’s cheerleader.
In the past 18 months Crystal has had 10 rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a stem cell transplant and surgery.
Speaking ahead of the race, mum Sabrina Amor said there was “no obstacle big or small” that would stop her getting to the finish line to meet Crystal.y
Sabrina, who spent months in hospital with Crystal, was joined by her mum, Helen Ryan, 50, sister Lauren Amor, 32, daughter Georgia Brailey, 14, and a group of friends for the obstacle running challenge.
Social media were flooded with pictures, posts and videos of women taking part – with many using the hashtag #PrettyMuddy.
Teresa Mills tweeted: “Off to Cardiff for Pretty Muddy. I normally run for my dad, but this one I’m running for my mam!”
Meanwhile, Caroline Matthews said: “On my way home from Pretty Muddy. Thanks to my friend Cerys for the face full of mud.”