After dredging themselves through a pasty mud pit, participants in the 2017 St. Jude Kids’ Muddy Madness obstacle course clean up the best they can. Said by one parent, regarding their child’s shoes, “We’re throwing those away when we get home!” (Photo By Holly Eitenmiller / For Chronicle Media)

Every year, there’s a table covered in lanyards at the St. Jude Kids’ Muddy Madness run at Westwood Park in Morton. Each feature the name and age of a child undergoing cancer treatment: Brent, 16; Aja, 14; Sammy, 6; Benton, 3.

For $5, participants may buy and wear one to show support for St. Jude Cancer Research Hospital patients who cannot participate because they are sick.

This year, Eric Dolan’s name was not on that table, because, on July 11, 2016, the 16-year-old was determined cancer-free, and he was able, for the first time, to take to the obstacle course with his team of family and friends called “Eric’s Army”.

Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,

ALL, on Dec. 13, 2013, Eric could only watch from the grassy sidelines as his team participated in the annual fundraiser in support of him. Crossing the starting line with his friends and cousins this year was a “bucket list” moment for the teen.

“Last year, we were in Tennessee and Eric had his final treatment the day before the mud run,” Eric’s father, Jason said. “We flew back as fast as we could, he really wanted to be there for it. This is the first year he could participate.”

Eric is one of the many reasons parents and kids show up at the park in droves for Muddy Madness. More than 1,500 kids pre-registered for the July 8 run, and more registered upon arrival that day. Each year, the sum of all donations surpasses the other.

Until now, Eric Dolan, 16, was unable to participate in the annual St. Jude Kids’ Muddy Madness event. Diagnosed Dec. 13, 2013 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia,
Dolan could only watch as a team of family and friends, known as “Eric’s Army” ran in support of him. On July 11, 2016, the teenager was determined cancer-free, and he participated with his team in this year’s Muddy Madness. (Photo By Holly Eitenmiller / For Chronicle Media)

The 2015 run raised $75,000. The next year the total was $83,000, so it is likely, Muddy Madness co-chairperson, Christy Howell said, that 2017 will raise the bar once again.

“Kids also raise money before Muddy Madness, mowing lawns, things like that,” Howell said. “They really enjoy helping St. Jude.”

Howell and other volunteers handed out packets to the registrants, which included a t-shirt and number of complementary items; a free soda and popcorn at Landmark Cinemas in Peoria, a free family package at Bloomington’s Upper Limits Climbing Gym McDonald’s and a free pass to Miller Park Zoo, also in Bloomington.

It was hard to tell who had more fun Saturday at the run; the kids or the adults. The park was packed with grinning volunteers and cheering family members and friends as kids plowed through an obstacle course which began with a wall of bubbles and ended in a big, sloppy mud pit.

In between; a climbing wall and climbing rope, hay bales, logs, tunnels, tires and giant red balls meant for the kids to “pinball” through.

As wave after wave of kids navigated the obstacle course, Star Wars Mandelorian Mercenaries mingled with the crowd, carrying donation cans and posing for free photos with event-goers. Mark Berry, a members of Illinois’ 501st Legion, Vader’s Fist, said members enjoy dressing for causes.

The Star Wars group attends events for the American Cancer Society, the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Toys for Tots, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and many others.

Sydney Sumner, 9, was all smiles as she emerged from the muddy bog that punctuates the obstacle course at the 2017 St. Jude Kids’ Muddy Madness fundraiser. The event raised $83,000 in 2016 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and it is likely that proceeds from the popular event will meet or exceed that amount this year. (Photo By Holly Eitenmiller / For Chronicle Media)

More than 50 local sponsors helped fund the event, including Great Clips, Dunkin Donuts, CEFCU Credit Union, Mathis-Kelly Construction Supply Company and local radio stations KISS FM and JACK FM.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was founded in 1962, with the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate Clinic established in Peoria in 1972. Former Peoria Mayor Jim Maloof and his wife Trudy, as well as the late Peoria pediatrician Dr. Robert Heart, were instrumental in founding the Peoria location.

Programs there include, but are not limited to, treatment for brain tumors, blood disorders, leukemia and lymphoma, infectious diseases and sickle cell disease.

At the St. Jude Kids’ Muddy Madness event, held each year at Westwood Park, in Morton, children charge through a bank of bubbles at the start of the event’s obstacle course, which ends with a mud pit. The kids are split into groups of around 15, and all are given a bib number 1. (Photo By Holly Eitenmiller / For Chronicle Media)

HOW TO HELP ST. JUDE HOSPITAL St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital take donations year-round on their website at www.stjude.org/ or locally at 530 NE Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, IL 61603.

According to the organization’s website, “Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.”

–Kids get down and dirty to help St. Jude cancer fight–