Sudbury's Carli Ohara was an avid gymnast. She had been a regular at Sampo Rhythmic Gymnastics club for 13 years before tragedy struck.
Ohara remembers walking in for her usual practice one day when she learned the news of the demise of her gymnastics coach, Christina Roque.
Roque had succumbed to her battle with lymphoma.
“It was one of the hardest days of my life,” a teary-eyed Ohara said.
The burden of Roque's loss has weighed deep on Ohara for the last six years, so much so she is yet to return to her gymnastics training.
“I was one of her athletes. I saw her live through the illness as she continued to do what she loved,” Ohara said.
Today Ohara was channelling her grief towards raising awareness and funds of cancer research by participating in Sudbury's Mademoiselle Run.
“I hope that we can raise awareness about the various forms of cancer and support the people who have been through the experience or going through it right now,” Ohara said.
A similar sentiment was echoed by as many as 500 women who joined in to participate in the five-kilometre obstacle course mud run.
“Every year our participant numbers have grown, which means that people are enjoying themselves and are willing to spread the word,” Sally Dunton, community fundraising specialist said.
The run hosted at Adanac ski hill drew women of all ages – young and old – who promised to leave no woman behind.
“This is just a fun way for women to come together and support each other as they overcome obstacles – metaphorically and literally,” Dunton said.
Along with the obvious muddy stretches, the women were tasked with overcoming a course that that demanded endurance to climb the ski hills, crawl through mud pits and overcome other obstacles.
With the event running in its fifth year, the organizers have left no stone unturned to make this challenging and fun run yet.
“We have definitely switched things around to keep it exciting and so that the race flows well together,” Dunton said.
Mudmoiselle Sudbury has raised approximately $50,000 per year, and this year they hope to pass that number.
“All of the money donated goes to do cancer research whether locally or nationally, and through that research so many of us can benefit,” Dunton said.
Apart from raising awareness, or funds for cancer research for many women like Ohara, the mud run is more than honouring the loved it is a process of healing.
"After the run, at some point this year I have decided to go back to the gym for Christina," Ohara said.
If you missed out on the muddy day activities, check out our dirtiest gallery yet.
