Get Dirty For Clean Water at the Kalamazoo Mud Run - June 2, 2012

Feb. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- February 1, 2012 – Kalamazoo, Michigan: The Kalamazoo Mud Run is an exciting new fitness event that is coming to Kalamazoo on June 2, 2012.  The event will take place at Kalamazoo Community Church at 2435 N. 26th, Kalamazoo, MI 49048.  This trail run is part of a popular trend of mud-themed events splashing up all over the U.S. where participants run trails, slosh though mud filled trenches, climb and maneuver over obstacles and generally have muddy fun.  Similar events include the Tough Mudder, the Warrior Dash and the nearby Grand Rapids Mud Run.

The Kalamazoo Mud Run consists of a 5k course for solo runners, age 13 and up, and four person teams.  There will also be a shorter Kids Mud Run for kids 6-12 years old. The trail-run style course is currently being planned as a 2.5k loop including obstacles and many opportunities to get wet and muddy.  Participants can expect to be challenged with obstacles such as hills, wall climbs, mud crawls, mud trenches and lots of water.
Kalamazoo Community Church (KCC) came up with the idea of converting the trails that wind through the 44 wooded acres surrounding the church into a challenging mud and obstacle course.  The event is part of the church’s ongoing mission to “Creatively Demonstrate God’s Love”.  The event is themed - “Get Dirty for Clean Water” because 100% of the proceeds will be used to bring clean water to the people of Bulenga, a village just outside of Kampala, Uganda. Kalamazoo Community Church is partnering with The Bridge in Portage and Living Water International to build a desperately-needed new well in a town where their current well is damaged.

“While we often hear about the need for food, medicine, and water in Africa, it wasn't until we got to know Pastor Solomon Mwesige and his local ministry in Kampala, Uganda that the need became real.  The drought that some parts of Africa experienced last year was a great example...we could help temporarily, but we were looking for a way to effect real change.  As we began to work with The Bridge and other Kalamazoo-area churches on how to help make a difference, sharing the love of Jesus in practical ways over there, we began to look into a well project. In this way, we will be able to help them have a good source of clean water for years to come! The children and families in that community will be grateful every day!” explained KCC Senior Pastor Dave Johnson.                                                                    
                                                           
Kalamazoo Community Church will also conduct a shoe collection for Soles4Souls for three weeks leading up to the Kalamazoo Mud Run.  Shoes will also be collected at the Kalamazoo Mud Run including the muddy shoes from the participants which will be cleaned before being donated. Souls4Soles provides shoes to aid the hurting worldwide and also uses the shoes to support micro-business opportunities. Over 300 million children around the world are without shoes. Soles4Souls has distributed over 15 million pairs of shoes in five years and is currently distributing one pair every seven seconds.

Visit www.KalamazooMudRun.com for more information and updates about the course as it is being constructed. Early-bird registration is open starting at $31 for adults and $11 for children who register online by April 1st.  Many sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are also available to help reach the goal of building a new well in Kampala, Uganda.  Current Event Sponsors include: Wow Web Works, Best Way Disposal, Rhino Media Productions, SBF Enterprises/Corona Graphics and Gordon Water. Email KalamazooMudRun@gmail.com to get involved.

                                                                  www.KalamazooMudRun.com

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Kalamazoo Community Church is a Christian, non-denominational church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The purpose of the church is to "creatively demonstrate God's Love".