Here’s mud in your eye
Muddy Miles Levi in the mud: Levi McFadden, 7, crawls through mud at the Heritage Health fundraiser.
Covered from head to toe in glorious, gloppy, dark brown mud, Levi McFadden knew he had secured family bragging rights.
The 7-year-old beat out his two older brothers for the muddiest McFadden at Muddy Miles, an annual fundraiser for Heritage Health.
“I did it,” said Levi. “I got the most mud.”
Levi’s mother, Brooke, laughed at her son’s accomplishment. She remembered the chore of getting her son's clothes clean.
“Levi stuffed mud down his pants, down his shirt and his socks,” said Brooke. “He was slathered in so much mud that we must have spent at least 20 minutes at the cleaning station. Some shoes ended up in the garbage because we couldn’t get them clean.”
Levi’s brothers, Caleb and Ty, are anxious for another opportunity to get a dirty rematch this Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. The 2K mud run begins at 11 a.m. and ends around 1 p.m.
Muddy Miles includes obstacles, bouncy inflatables and new this year will be large dirt mounds inside the arena.
The show's star is the mud pit. Caleb McFadden said he can’t wait to rerun the course. When asked what his favorite part of the family event is, the 10-year-old didn’t hesitate.
“The mud,” said Caleb.
Ty McFadden, 13, adds he intends to be the muddiest of his siblings.
“It’s so fun playing in the mud pit,” said Ty. “Yes, I want bragging rights this year.”
Muddy Miles is Heritage Health’s only fundraiser of the year. Proceeds go to the Mary Ellen Scholarship Fund, which gives access to those who are underinsured or uninsured to quality health care in their communities.
“It’s an amazing event,” said Heritage Health CEO Mike Baker. “What could be better than playing in the mud on a hot day to help people?”
Heritage Health is one of North Idaho’s largest providers of integrated medical, dental and behavioral health services. The nonprofit has nearly a dozen locations in Kootenai, Shoshone and Benewah counties.
Muddy Miles is this Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Tickets cost $40 for adults and $15 for children (ages 4-17). Team ticket packages are also available. A team of four adults is $160 and a team of two adults and two kids is $110.
To buy tickets, go to www.myheritagehealth.org/muddymile.