Muddy Puddles 'Mess Fest' continues fight against childhood cancer

The Muddy Puddles Project once again provided good clean fun in the dirt at Kiwi Country Day Camp, which hosted the 14th annual Mess Fest fundraiser for the childhood cancer research nonprofit the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation.

The event is a tribute to Ty, who died of brain cancer in 2012 at age 5 and whose dying wish was to jump in a muddy puddle.

“I was overwhelmed with how simple his wish was, and consumed by grief knowing I could never make it come true for him,” said Ty’s mom, Cindy Campbell, in a statement announcing this year’s Fest. “When he passed away just days later, I received hundreds of beautiful photos from moms around the world who were letting their kids jump in muddy puddles for him, and I started to envision a way to keep that tradition alive by hosting an event that embodies all the fun activities he dreamed of, while benefiting important childhood cancer research to help others like him.”

Thus far, the project has raised more than $850,000 to fund childhood cancer research. Learn more about the Muddy Puddles Project and how you can help at muddypuddlesproject.org.—Emile Menasché