More than 400 runners came out to the Poley Mountain Mud Run on Saturday, raising $72,000 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
“It’s really going to support our programs around educating people about the risk factors for heart disease and stroke and really fund the mission of what we do as an organization,” says Donna Gates, the vice-president of communications for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
A five kilometre course with a dozen obstacles was set up throughout the mountain. Gates says the course is designed for people of all fitness levels.
“We want people to come out and have a great day and be challenged,” she says. “There’s obstacles you can climb, some are muddy, some are not. There is a slip and slide, really just designed for some challenging pieces and some really fun pieces and the hill itself is probably the biggest obstacle.”
This is the first year for the event and organizers say they hope it won’t be the last. With Poley Mountain being a central location, people from all over came to participate.
“Poley is really looking to have the venue marketed as a summer destination for other types of events,” says Gates.
The mountain’s new lodge was the backdrop to Saturday’s events. The previous lodge burned down last year. Construction is now underway to get the new facility up and running before winter.
“Looking really well,” says Poley Mountain Manager Bill Anderson on the construction project. “Good guys working here and things look positive for December. But I say November 15th.”
