On Saturday, June 20, JCB hosted its first-ever “Mudfest” at the company’s North American headquarters in Savannah, GA. Mudfest combined JCB’s popular Mud Run and Dig the Ride races into one big event with twice the mess, twice the excitement and twice the fun. Mudfest is a 100% charitable event made possible through corporate sponsorships from vendors and suppliers and time donations from JCB employees and other members of the community. The company's equipment was used to build courses across the company’s campus spread over 1,000 acres of rugged Georgia terrain.

“JCB is always proud to open our campus to the community, and what better way to do that than to host an event created by our equipment,” said Thom Peebles, Vice President of Marketing for JCB North America “The first-ever Mudfest was a tremendous success, as we hosted over 1,300 runners and 50 bikers all in the name of raising $100,000 to support The Lady Bamford Center.”

Backhoes, skid steers, compact track loaders and excavators created trails, obstacles and other surprises that guaranteed an exciting time for all participants, whether they were on foot or on a bike. A lake and numerous trails tested the participants’ endurance and their willingness to get as muddy as possible. Runners and riders tackled their respective courses at the same time, allowing for extra excitement as the courses intersected in several places, including the “Tunnel of Love,” a container that runners went over and bikers rode through. After the races, participants rinsed off at one of several cleaning stations and then partied it up at the area’s best post-race party, the “Party Pit,” complete with food, drinks and live music.

Mudfest is now part of the all new Savannah Mud Run Charity Series to benefit local children/youth non-profit organizations in Chatham County and surrounding areas. In addition to Mudfest, this new series also includes the recent Chatham County Sheriff’s Department’s Jailbreak Challenge Mud Run.  

Proceeds from JCB Mudfest benefit The Lady Bamford Center for Early Childhood Development. Operated by Wesley Community Centers of Savannah, the Lady Bamford Center provides education and social skills development to children from six weeks to four years of age. The Center offers priority admission to children from homeless and low-income families, as well as children with physical, mental or emotional challenges. Its interactive curriculum prepares young children for kindergarten and elementary school and helps them compete with other children academically. The Lady Bamford Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Fewer than eight percent of all early childhood centers in the United States receive this prestigious honor.