Team Tough for Children, a group of local athletes training to slough through mud for the sake of Greenbriar Children’s Center, is halfway through their training program and the five-month fundraiser they launched in June. All the proceeds they raise along the way will benefit Greenbriar.

The four athletes who will compete in the World’s Toughest Mudder 24-hour obstacle course on Nov. 10 in Atlanta kicked off their journey on Tybee Island the morning of June 6. When they gathered to do their first workout as a team and to let the community know they’d be supporting Greenbriar through their efforts, they were encouraged by the community’s enthusiasm. Now that they’ve hit the midway point, Team Tough for Children, as they’ve dubbed themselves, don’t want to lose momentum.

The team is comprised of members Christopher Stoudemire of Alabama, Amanda Mathew of California, Ryan Hillman of Massachusetts, and Andrew Sweeney of Massachusetts. Although they’re all originally from out of state, the four were living in Savannah when they decided to tackle the World’s Toughest Mudder. Since the kick-off, Mathew has moved to Virginia but is still religiously following the training program and keeping her fellow team members informed of her progress. But it’s not just athletic progress the team is interested in. They’re committed to seeing their Greenbriar fundraiser through as well.

The team is just shy of its original fundraising goal of $3,000, but according to Sweeney, most donations came in soon after they launched the initiative – when it was still fresh in the minds of the team’s supporters and the community. They’ve seen donations taper off since the early June kick-off, and Team Tough for Children wants to remind the community that the fundraising campaign is still in need of contributions. In fact, awareness is needed now more than ever.

Buoyed by the campaign’s initial success and influx of funds, the team decided to increase its fundraising goal. Now, the original $3,000 is just a fraction of what they hope to raise. All the proceeds will support Greenbriar, which has been promoting the healthy development of children and the strengthening of families for 69 years in and around Savannah.

As Stoudemire, Mathew, Hillman and Sweeney have continued their training, they’ve been sharing their journey via social media and encouraging local businesses and community members to donate to Greenbriar, which they chose because of its reputation for helping abused, neglected, homeless and runaway children.

Team Tough for Children is utilizing crowdsourcing, and their donation page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/tough-for-children-amp-greenbriar-cc. In the meantime, the four will continue to share updates and photos from their training, tagging Greenbriar and reminding followers to give generously. Supporters can follow the team’s progress and lean more at www.instagram.com/toughforchildren and /www.facebook.com/ToughForChildren.

Tough Mudder is an endurance event series in which participants attempt 10- to 12-mile-long obstacle courses that test mental and physical strength. Teams competing in the challenges often select a charity to fundraise for as they prepare for the big day. The World Tough Mudder, held once a year, names a winner based on which contestant completes the most 5-mile course laps in a 24-hour period.

Since they began training nearly three months ago, the team has seen improvements in endurance and strength. In addition to frequent rigorous workouts, the athletes also pay close attention to their nutrition.

“We revamped our diets. I’m focused on eating higher fat and fewer carbs and trying to get my body prepared for 24 hours of racing,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve lost 18 pounds, and my goal was to lose 15, so I’ve already accomplished it. I definitely feel better and lighter. Ryan (Hillman) is following the same nutrition plan I am.”

Sweeney had planned to bulk up by gaining muscle weight, but with all the cardiovascular exercise, he too has shed 15 pounds. Mathew, who recently moved to Virginia, is frequently running trails, which allows her to enjoy new scenery and experience different terrains. Also, she said the change in elevation has positively affected her performance.

With just two and a half months until the big day, Team Tough for Children encourages all of their followers and Greenbriar’s supporters to contribute to the campaign.

“No amount is too small,” said Greenbriar Executive Director Gena Taylor. “We’re honored that Team Tough for Children is working so hard to raise awareness for what we do. You can reward their efforts and help our community’s at-risk children by contributing to this initiative, and we hope you will.”