There’s a person in there: Entrants might need a towel for the ride home in the car from Zaidee’s Mad Cow Mud Run.
Photo by
Julie Mercer
As the green shoots of new life begin sprouting from the Goulburn River’s flood plain after October’s floods, events around the river are also springing back to life, Zaidee’s Mad Cow Mud Run among them.
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The mud run is an obstacle course race that challenges entrants to run, crawl, climb, carry, swim, fall down, get up and laugh their way through its creativity and challenges.
The event is owned and managed by Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation, which aims to increase awareness about organ and tissue donation. All profits from the event go to the foundation.
Normally the foundation holds two events a year, but last November’s run was cancelled due to flooding.
Allan Turner is the foundation’s managing director and proud dad of Zaidee, after whom it is named.
He said the mud run helped the foundation raise funds to carry out its work increasing awareness of the need for organ donation, which includes the message that there are 1882 people on Australia’s transplant waiting list, around 100 of whom are children.
Down and dirty: RJ Singh taking part in the Mad Cow Mud Run last year. Photo: Megan Fisher
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“To do the work that we do on a national scale to help save and improve the lives of those that are waiting for a transplant, that’s what we do,” he said.
“So if you need a transplant, hopefully you’ll get one sooner rather than later, and if you’re in a position as Zaidee was at the end of life to be an organ and tissue donor, we inspire and encourage families to talk and think about this.”
Mr Turner said the serious nature of the cause did not overshadow the fun had by participants in the mud run on the day.
“It has more obstacles than any other course in Australia, with between 70 and 80 obstacles, depending on the day, and it’s a fun day for the whole family,” he said.
“The age group is from three years up to whatever years you wish to participate.
“It’s a day when everybody gets muddy, sweaty and dirty and come across the finishing line with a smile on their face.”
Zaidee’s Mad Cow Mud Run will be held on Saturday, February 25 at KidsTown, Midland Hwy, Mooroopna.
