Not far from the finish line, an oversize mud slide was a hit with participants and spectators alike.Photo: JCB
JCB’s North American operations in Savannah, Georgia, played host recently to the company’s fifth annual Mud Run, an altogether messy event benefiting the Lady Bamford Center for Early Childhood Development. Needless to say, JCB had all the equipment it needed to produce an exceedingly muddy, five-mile course.
“JCB is always proud to open our campus to the community,” said Thom Peebles, vice president of marketing for JCB North America. “What better way to do that than to host an event built by the equipment we manufacturer in Savannah? Today is an especially great day because we hosted a record 1,500 runners, with proceeds being donated to the Lady Bamford Center.”
The five-mile course included plenty of obstacles, including a dip in the lake on JCB’s Savannah campus.Photo: JCB
Runners completed 43 obstacles, including a splash through the JCB lake thanks to sponsors JE Dunn and the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport. They tackled numerous trails in between that tested their endurance and willingness to get muddy before approaching an oversize “mud slide” just in front of the finish line, a new feature this year that proved popular among participants and spectators alike. After completing the course, each racer received a finisher’s medal donated by Seacrest Partners.
After the races, participants rinsed off at one of several JCB-style shower stations sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals. They then partied it up at a Coca-Cola-sponsored “Battle of the Bands” in the post-race “Party Pit.”
The Lady Bamford Center for Early Childhood Development, operated by Wesley Community Centers of Savannah, provides education and social skills development to children from 6 weeks to 4 years of age. The center offers priority admission to children from homeless and low-income families, as well as children with physical, mental or emotional challenges.
The Lady Bamford Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a certification held by fewer than 8 percent of all early childhood centers in the United States.
