Saturday’s ‘Tough It For Timor’ Mud Run was the most successful to date, with about 140 people braving the 5km obstacle course and raising $2000.
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All proceeds will be utilised by Finley High School’s Timor Immersion Program students to purchase items to donate to the Timor people when they visit next year.
The group has set a goal of raising $30,000 before they go, with the next fundraising event to be at the Finley Xmas Xtravaganza on December 21.
Saturday’s mud run started at the Finley Showgrounds & Sporting Complex and took participants through a course to the Finley Pony Club.
The obstacles created were as ‘‘disgusting’’ as they were muddy, with the rotten fruit obstacle a real challenge.
Immersion program participant Sarah Orro said the day was a lot of fun for the participants, and the students manning each obstacle.
‘‘Everyone who came through my obstacle was surprised and disgusted to find out out they had to avoid all of the smelly rotten fruit below them,’’ she said.
‘‘We also had a lot of feedback on the powdered milk station, that it was gross to be fully submerged in the pit.
‘‘I could also hear the screams as people slid into the pit of mud at one of the stations close to me.
‘‘When the event started at 9am it was quite cold, but as the morning went on it got a lot warmer, which wasn’t good news for those going through the milk obstacle.’’
Ten teens will participate in the immersion program next year — Jemma Coombs, Abbey Marshall, Meg Marsden, Niamh Mason, Lily Sharp, Clay Webb, Will Sexton, Justin Lawton, Sarah Orro and Elle Rochford — and all were actively involved in organising and running the mud run.
They also braved the obstacle course themselves at the end of the day.
‘‘When we did the run together on Saturday after everyone had left, it started out really fun,’’ Sarah said.
‘‘Unfortunately because the milk had been there all day it became really gross, the sun made the rotten fruit smell so much worse and there was hay everywhere.
‘‘To make matters worse we had David Marsden (Meg’s father) on the firetruck spraying us while we did the run.’’
Another highlight of the day was the much anticipated ‘ball drop’.
Local pilot Damian Sexton took off in a helicopter at noon and dropped two separate bags of golf balls above a flag in the middle of the showground oval.
‘‘We were able to sell all 300 golf balls so it was a full event,’’ Sarah said.
‘‘Everyone who was there could hear the helicopter take off and watched on with interest as the golf balls were dropped.
‘‘We all want to congratulate Alan Murphy who had the winning ball, 3163.’’
The day also incorporated the Finley Markets and the Finley Public School P&C's Car Boot Sale.
Immersion Program coordinator Yasmin McGrath said he was impressed by the work ethic shown by the students, and also thanked their parents for contributing to the success of the day.