Mud, sweat and tears... for charity

AN ENERGETIC mum-of-two from Gainsborough will put herself through the toughest assault course challenge, in aid of The Meningitis Trust.

Natasha Kent, 29, of Asquith Street, is gearing up for the gruelling 10km assault course run on 23rd September.

“It will be really tough. I’ve done this kind of thing before,” said Natasha.

“It starts off with a two kilometre run, then you get stuck into all the obstacles and the mud - it’s quite good fun actually.”

The Wild Thing eXtreme obstacle trail run is held in Brailsford, Derbyshire, where hundreds of athletes descend for the race.

Many of them are running for a charity close to their hearts. And Natasha is no exception.

“I decided I want to raise money for The Meningitis Trust because it’s a charity that does such important work,” said Natasha.

“I know another Gainsborough mum, Lucy Jones, who lost her little boy Joshua to meningitis in 2010.”

“This race is not only to raise money for the charity, but it’s in memory of Joshua too.”

“I’ve known Lucy since school and I really admire the work she is doing for the Meningitis Trust, organising Toddle Waddles and things like that.”

Natasha also knows how important it is for parents to recognise the symptoms of the condition.

She once had a scare involving her one-year-old son Logan.

“He was really sleepy and had a rash on his body,” said Natasha.

“Luckily it was not meningitis. But it was really scary. And it made me realise how important it is to know the symptoms.”

“The more awareness we can raise among parents, the better.”

Natasha has been training hard for the event, and even her seven-year-old daughter Tiegan has been bitten by the fitness bug.

Tiegan has been jogging alongside he mum as she trains around the town.

“She can’t run as far as me but it’s good that she’s showing an interest in keeping fit. I will always encourage that,” said Natasha.

As the feisty mum-of-two makes her way through the swamps, down water slides, up giant walls and across quicksand, her friends and family will cheer her on from the sidelines.

“It’s going to be great. I’ll be covered in mud but I don’t care, it’s for a good cause,” she said.

l To sponsor Natasha, look out for sponsor forms in local shops.

To find out more about the Wild Thing assault course see www.xrunner.co.uk/events/wild-thing-mud-run-obstacle-race

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