So, We're Talking About a Mud Run
As you may have noticed, this isn't our usual blog post about which work trousers to pick or whether to boot up this summer. This one's a little messier, involving mud, mayhem and a few mucky kilometers, all in the name of a cause that genuinely matters. Georgia Patilla
The story starts on Sunday 13th July, as nearly 1,300 people voluntarily covered themselves head to toe in mud at Wantisden Hall near Woodbridge for the Piglet Junior Hog event (yes, on purpose!) Kids from age eight up, parents, friends, and strangers who became teammates for the day, all of them tackling 30+ obstacles across 4km of gloriously chaotic course.
Imagery: Glenn Hands Photography
TuffStuff's banner was in that field too, and we’re here to tell you all about it.
What Is the Piglet Junior Hog? (We’re Glad You Asked)
The Piglet Junior Hog is a family-friendly obstacle course run by EACH (the Each Anglia Children's Hospice), open to children aged eight and over, with parents and friends all encouraged along for the ride- or voluntarily dragged in some cases!
Wantisden Hall became this year’s home to the 30+ obstacles, 4km of course, tunnels, hay bales, muddy water, and enough chaos to guarantee you stop trying to stay clean somewhere around obstacle number three, as nearly 1,300 fundraisers took part and together raised £48,000 for EACH- a number that is still climbing.
Imagery: Glenn Hands Photography
As EACH Senior Events Fundraiser Ellie Nevard put it: "I love witnessing children's reactions when their parents get splattered in mud; it's like all their dreams have come true!"
It was the kind of day your kids will talk about for weeks, and the kind where you'll be finding mud in your ears for two weeks after, no matter how hard you clean them!
Why TuffStuff Keep Showing Up for EACH
As we said in our previous blog post ‘More Than Just Workwear: TuffStuff Back EACH Abseil’, EACH isn't just a worthy cause for us, but a local one too. For a brand based in the East of England, with a team that lives and works here, EACH’S three hospices: The Treehouse in Ipswich, The Nook in Norfolk, and Milton in Cambridgeshire, mean the families they support are not only those they care for, but our neighbours too.
The Piglet Junior Hog is the latest in an ongoing relationship we have with EACH. Before this, there was the Cathedral Abseil in Bury St Edmunds, team members abseiling in Norwich, the Pier to Pier walk across Suffolk, and the Christmas Sock Campaign. We keep coming back not only because of the amazing work they do, but because showing up once and calling it done has never really been the TuffStuff way!
Thankfully, none of our team has needed EACH's care first-hand, and we're grateful for that. But it doesn't make the cause feel any less close to home. If anything, it makes turning up feel more important.
The Bit That Really Matters
Among those taking part was Jason Wilkins, who completed the course alongside his son Ned and teammates from Framlingham Town Youth Football Club, who together raised a whopping £700.
Jason's family has a special connection with EACH. His son Isaac, who had the genetic muscle-wasting condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), received end-of-life care from EACH over Christmas 2009. Isaac was just five months old when he died in March 2010.
That's what £48,000 looks like behind the number. Not a fundraising total, but a field full of people showing up for real families like Jason's. Every muddy obstacle, every pound of sponsorship, every child cheering their parent over a hay bale, we're glad Jason and Ned were there, and we’re glad we could play even a small part in such an important picture.
Imagery: Glenn Hands Photography
Oink if You're Proud
TuffStuff's banner was in the field, our name was part of the day, and every one of those £48,000 reasons is something we're genuinely glad to have played a part in.
Mud washes off, but the difference EACH makes to families across East Anglia doesn't, and we’re as proud as pigs in mud to have been there.
Imagery: Glenn Hands Photography
If you want to find out more about EACH's incredible work, or sign up for a future event, head to each.org.uk. For adults after a bigger challenge, the Whole Hog and Boss Hog are taking place in October- which is definitely worth a look!
And if you're more about tiling a roof than tackling a mud run, you know where to find us, right here on our TuffStuff website: www.tuffstuffworkwear.co.uk
