Students at Walnut Grove Secondary School climbed ropes and walls while dodging mud and water balloons, all to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation.
On the morning of Oct. 3, students gathered in colourful costumes to compete in the annual Tuff Wally obstacle course, which mimics a small-scale version of Whistler’s Tough Mudder.
The final obstacle is a 10-foot high wall that participants have to climb over with the help of their teammates.
More than $26,000 was raised by the 2,200 students and staff at WGSS from the school’s annual Terry Fox run and Tuff Wally.
To participate in Tuff Wally, students had to create teams of five, co-ordinate costumes and fundraise together.
Team Rainbow Road took home the 2018 championship title.
Rainbow Road teammates Kenzie Brandon, Owen Coleman, Ashley Mallett, Christian Esquivel and Jacob Williams raised approximately $1,700. The team participated last year, but said they put in extra effort this year.
“We thought this year we should do it, but we went more full-out with the team and co-ordination. We wanted to push ourselves,” said Williams.
For Coleman, it was personal.
“My mom passed from cancer about a year and a half ago, so that helped push me to raise a lot of money.”
Esquivel said the team didn’t expect to win as they were ‘in it for the fun factor.’
Teammates from The Breakfast Club were awarded best costume title for dressing up as common breakfast foods.
“It’s a great time, great cause, and great people,” said Cierra Cook, who ran the obstacle course dressed in a banana costume.
Terry Fox’s niece, Kirsten Fox, also took part in this year’s Tuff Wally.
The obstacle course included a slide, rope ladders, hurdles and punching bags.
Bystanders watched from the sidelines with buckets full of mud, colour bombs, and water balloons to throw at participants once they got close enough.
Students and teachers had some extra incentive this year because the school’s youth worker, Rosemary Davis, is currently battling cancer.
Last year the Tuff Wally and Terry Fox run raised $23,000.
WGSS has been raising funds for 14 years and has raised more than $200,000 to date.
