Young gymnasts vault through 4km of mud for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices
A group of seven-to-nine-year-old gymnasts led by Karolina Lubecka-Clark, Management Support Co-Ordinator at Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority, used their acrobatic skills to tackle a mud-filled obstacle course and raise more than £600 for children with life-threatening conditions.
Karolina accompanied her son Regan and five of his friends from Pipers Vale Gymnastic Club, Ipswich, in the Piglet Junior Hog 2022, who raised £641 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
She said:
“The boys took every obstacle so easily and were flying through the 4km run. Regan even planned on diving into the mud and slinging it at his friends. I, on the other hand, am a clean freak, so struggled crawling through the dirt and wading through mucky ponds with the other mums.
“We were all smiling throughout however, as it was amazing to see the boys helping each other over the obstacles while raising money for children most in need.”
From left: Regan and his mother, Karolina, get covered in mud.
Karolina and her friends wanted to organise a bonding session for Pipers Vale’s Elite Boys Squad after Regan joined the group.
When one of the mum’s suggested the Piglet Junior Hog, Regan jumped at the opportunity to put his skills to the test.
Karolina said:
“These boys train for 16 hours per week to be at the top of their game in competitions, which makes bonding incredibly important.
“They are all very fit, so the Piglet Junior Hog seemed like a great way to apply their skills to a good cause.”
Regan treks up a muddy mound without needing a rope.
All of the children were accompanied by their mums on the day – being below the age to enter without adult supervision – and fundraised under the team name ‘Flipping Piglets’.
The Flipping Piglets breezed through over 20 obstacles, from tunnels to swing ropes, in an hour-and-a-half, winning medals and raising £641 for EACH from donations on their fundraising webpage.
Becky Redbond, Events Manager at EACH, said:
“It was a huge success and we were absolutely delighted to raise more than £31,000. Everyone enjoyed themselves and everywhere I went there were big smiles and the sound of laughter.
“The money raised will make a big difference and events like this are a vital income stream for our organisation, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.”
Karolina is now putting together a team for Thrive Outdoor with her colleagues from SCPHA. She said:
“We’re all very charitable at Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority and are excited to fundraise for another cause that is close to our hearts by pushing our physical limits.”
From left: Karolina and her son, Regan, wade through a dirty lake.
