A COLCHESTER charity which supports teenagers and adults with cancer was full of praise for an annual event which returned for its 50th anniversary.

The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation is a charity which supports people aged 13 to 24 and their families by providing practical, emotional and physical support whilst also funding research into the disease.

The foundation was founded in 2014 by Niki and Richard Bowdidge, Tom’s parents.

It’s used as a way of carrying on his legacy after he died of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour and extensive peritoneal disease in 2013 at the age of 19.

Gazette: Messy - Maldon Mud Race competitorsMessy - Maldon Mud Race competitors (Image: Newsquest)

The organisation went to the 50th Maldon Mud Race in Promenade Park, Maldon, last Sunday, to spread awareness about its work.

Roughly 20,000 people attended the festivities, with 300 participants competing in the difficult and muddy challenge while raising funds for charities.

Speaking at the event, Nikki Bowdidge, chief executive and founder of The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation, said: “I’m very excited to be here, it’s the first time we’ve been here.

Gazette: A successful day out - the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation stall at the Maldon Mud RaceA successful day out - the Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation stall at the Maldon Mud Race (Image: Newsquest)

Gazette: Amazing - competitors enjoying this year's mud raceAmazing - competitors enjoying this year's mud race (Image: Guy Reece)

“Lindsay, my fundraising lead got us to come here and it’s something we’re very hopeful that one day we might be one of the chosen charities for the event.

“The people here have been absolutely wonderful; we’ve met a whole crowd of people who haven’t heard of the foundation before.

“It’s been a really fun day out, so we’ve very pleased to be here.”

James Cracknell OBE, Colchester parliamentary candidate and a double Olympic gold medallist, took part in the race on behalf of the charity, the Army Benevolent Fund.

Gazette: Ready to take part - James Cracknell OBE and Simon Ferrier from the Army Benevolent FundReady to take part - James Cracknell OBE and Simon Ferrier from the Army Benevolent Fund (Image: Newsquest)

Gazette: Proud - Brian Farrington, the Chairman of The Maldon Mud RaceProud - Brian Farrington, the Chairman of The Maldon Mud Race (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking to The Gazette prior to the race, he said: "I thought, it’s the mud run how bad can that be? And then I looked at pictures of it and it’s more like a mud swim.

“I thought it would be quite muddy up to the knee but it’s probably up to the chest.

“It’s 300 competitors. The worrying thing is there seem to be a lot more people watching.

“People are sort of sadistic and want to watch you suffer."

James Cracknell will be standing in the upcoming General Election. He will be going up against Pam Cox (Lab), Martin Goss (Lib Dem), Sara Ruth (Grn) and Terence Longstaff (Reform UK).