Muddy marvels hang tough to boost help for heroes (From Bicester Advertiser)

Muddy marvels hang tough to boost help for heroes

1:10pm Saturday 26th May 2012 in News

A team of friends raised thousands for a charity by getting cold, wet and muddy.

Staff from CMS Financial Management, based at Prospect House, Baynards Green, near Bicester, roped in five friends to take part in the first Tough Mudder event to raise £3,000 for soldiers’ charity Help for Heroes.

The group, Dave Marler, Julie Wigg and Dave Carter from the pension firm, along with friends John Turney, Chris Jackson, Ryan Carter, Stewart Sharp and Edd Biles, above, had to complete a 12-mile US Special Forces-devised obstacle course at the Boughton House Estate, in Kettering.

Mr Carter said: “The toughest challenges were walking the plank, using monkey bars, and jumping off a platform in quick succession, each of which involved falling into ice-cold water.

“With the cold already set in, this took a lot of mental power.

“We awoke next day stiff and achy and covered in cuts and bruises, but with a real sense of achievement, especially as none of us had even run 12 miles before. We were delighted to raise far more than we expected for Help for Heroes, a charity I was keen to support as my father served in the military for 22 years.”