3,000 ladies get pretty muddy for charity at Weston Park

Almost 3,000 ladies took part in the 'Pretty Muddy' Race for Life at Weston Park on Saturday, raising thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK.

Among them were mum Mandy Wall, her 18-year-old daughter Abbie and friend Kirsty Reid, 13, who got dressed up in pink and joined women from all over Shropshire and West Midlands to run 5k and 10k routes around the picturesque estate.

"I loved the mud," said Mandy. "That's what I came for. It made it a little more difficult but it was a lot more fun."

The 45-year-old sales team leader from Aqueduct, Telford, has run 14 Race for Life events, and her daughter has already run 12, but for both this was a different kettle of mud - the event on Saturday was not simply a run, but an obstacle course, guaranteed to get the runners dirty.

Hundreds set out on the punishing course every 15 minutes throughout the morning, to tackle tunnels, what looked like a huge inflatable paddling pool of mud, and a big slide into more mud at the end.

"We normally do the Race For Life in Telford Town Park," Mandy said, "But I wanted to do this. Most of the others on my team were not so keen – they're still just doing the straight run in Telford."

She said she had originally been inspired to run by the loss of her cousin, but had also lost her grandfather and another friend to cancer, a familiar story for the many of the participants, most of whose lives had been touched by the disease.

Speaking before her run, Tina Smith, 33, a horse groom from Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, said the cause was especially personal.

She said: "I've done the Race for Life for seven years and this is my second time doing the Pretty Muddy event. My friend was diagnosed eight years ago which is what started me doing it, but three years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer myself. I'm awaiting an MRI scan and mammogram next week, so fingers crossed.

"So I've seen first hand the advancement in the treatment between when she was treated and when I was, and I know it does all help."

Friend Katie Hughes, a primary school teacher from Bridgnorth, was running with her.

"I lost my auntie to cancer, and I'm here to support Tina," she said, adding she was nervous about how dirty she was likely to get. You won't recognise us when we come back," she said.

Others were also a bit concerned. Karen Dipipiazza, a 40-year-old mum from Brewood said she and 10 other friends from the village on the Staffordshire/Shropshire border had decided to enter on whim – though it may not have been the most sober decision, she said.

"We had a night out and thought it was a good idea at the time, and here we are.

"I'm looking forward to it being over – and a nice cup of tea and a bath at the end," she said. "But I'm sure it'll be fun, and it is raising money for a brilliant cause."

Race organiser Emily Thompson said it had been a great day.

"We've had about 2,500 people doing the 5k and about 500 doing the 10k," she said.

"It's the only 10k 'Pretty Muddy' course in the country, which is pretty good for the West Midlands, and the venue is just wonderful.

"It's brilliant, we've really kicked off the season in style. We've definitely got them muddy and the atmosphere has been energetic and really exciting."

Before each wave of runners trainers from Nuffield Gym in Cannock warmed up the crowd – and some runners were there as part a personal challenge to get in shape.

Weightwatchers from Telford, Wolverhampton and Stafford banded together to take on the Race for Life challenge as a goal to help them shed the pounds.

Finishing the course caked in mud, Weightwatchers leader Michelle Lelong, from Coven, Wolverhampton, said: "It's been amazing, absolutely brilliant, great fun with a great team spirit, everyone's had a good time. It's just more fun."