Hundreds of kids prepare to get very, very muddy for charity

Isabella Alderton with her friends Austin Mayo and Clara Saban-Smith, testing out the space hoppers as they help launch Pretty Muddy Kids taking place in Portsmouth this weekend

The Race for Life Pretty Muddy Kids event will take place for the first time this weekend on Southsea Common with an exciting obstacle course of scramble nets, space hoppers and mud chutes to crawl under, bounce on and charge through – all whilst raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Portsmouth is one of six cities across the UK chosen to host Pretty Muddy Kids and Jenny Makin, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for the city, said: ‘We’re delighted Portsmouth will be hosting one of our first Pretty Muddy Kids events. The obstacle course promises plenty of fun, thrills and spills and we hope children will rally their friends, family and schoolmates to sign up and take on the challenge.’

Two hundred and fifty children have already signed up and Isabella Alderton, who helped her mum through a tough battle with cancer, is encouraging more children across the area to take part.

Mum Claire, 39, said: ‘Isabella was really excited to test out the space hoppers and get muddy with her friends.

‘It’s great that the Pretty Muddy Kids event is happening for the first time in Portsmouth, it looks like great fun and it gives youngsters the perfect excuse to get really, really muddy.’

Claire, who has previously taken part in the adult Pretty Muddy event, added: ‘I support Cancer Research UK because of the importance it is placing on trying to make treatments better and kinder to patients. That’s why Isabella and I are urging boys and girls to take part. It’s a great opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against cancer.”

Other Race for Life events include the 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy courses, which thousands of women will take part in at the same venue across the weekend.

The event is on Saturday July 8 on Southsea Common and is open to children aged up to 12. There is a minimum height requirement of 1.2m. Entry fee is £10 and all children must be accompanied by a supervising adult, who have free entry. To enter, go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770.

Don’t miss Race for Life reports and pictures at portsmouth.co.uk and in next Monday’s News, plus the names of all entrants in next Tuesday’s News.