Family and friends undertook a gruelling muddy challenge in memory of a mother who lost her life to cancer just 10 days before.
Last Saturday, the 'No Butts About It' team lined the start line at Brighton's Muddy 5k in memory of Katy Butt, who died on June 19.
Katy, from Fleet, was just 50 years old and had been battling cancer for four years.
She was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer at the age of 47 in August 2020.
The diagnosis was devastating and despite the challenges, Katy faced treatment head-on.
Chemotherapy was punishing, affecting her in ways she had not anticipated. Yet, she persevered, even as she struggled to fight the disease inside her.
READ MORE: Macy Boyling ran Southampton Half Marathon for cancer charity
Katy’s resilience extended beyond her own fight. She continued to be a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend, whose courage and determination inspired those around her, to live life to the full, and became a beacon of hope.
Inspired by her memory, a team of 14, including Katie's children - Saffron, Tristan, and Rhianna, and her husband Torkel - decided to band together and do something to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
And they were amazed when they were their efforts saw them awarded the certificate for the highest fundraisers at the event.
Speaking about the day, a close friend of the family, Jonathan Thalayasingam, said: "It was so much fun, entertaining covered in mud, along the run there were bands, and singing."
Jonathan, who has raised £1,700 alone for the 'No Butts About It' team, added: "[I] thought it was going to be a hard day, but we were just being silly."
The Brighton Pretty Muddy 5k tasks participants to 'Climb, crawl and slide your way around the Pretty Muddy obstacle course at your own pace'.
With most participants finishing at around the hour mark, the organisers encourage runners to 'get muddy' and 'act like a big kid'. The 'No Butts About It' crew finished holding hands, covered in mud.
The group, from Church Crookham, set a fundraising target of £5,850 and have now exceeded that marker by over 200 per cent - raising more than £12,000.
To donate to Cancer Research UK on the team's behalf, please follow the link: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/no-butts-about-it.
- The article was written by Ed Debray
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