Getting soaked and covered in mud might not be everyone’s idea of fun but it enabled a group of kind-hearted construction workers to raise over £2,000 for Walsall Healthcare’s Well Wishers charity.

Nine Tilbury Douglas employees involved in the new c£40 million Urgent and Emergency Care Centre project at Walsall Manor Hospital completed the 10km Spring Wolf Run at Offchurch Bury, near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire.

Their initial target was to raise £1,000 from the gruelling, ‘tough mudder’ style event, but they demolished that, raising a total of £2,085.00 via a JustGiving page.

It was the first time most members of the group had tried anything like it. But showing true grit, the colleagues negotiated the six and a quarter mile course through 40 obstacles, a 50-metre open water swim and woods and fields, finishing together in a time of two hours and 15 minutes.

The youngest of the group was 23-year-old Mechanical Engineer Rachel Sutton, while Mechanical Supervisor Alex McDougall is in his late 50s.

Those who took part were: Construction Manager Noel Fleming of Solihull, Commercial Manager Bill Dugmore from Sutton Coldfield, Senior Project Manager Lee Mason from Coseley, Rachel from Wolverhampton, Electrical Engineer Phil Higgins of Halesowen, Electrical Supervisor Adrian Hewitt of Redditch and Alex of Birmingham, while Operations Manager Tony Nicholls from Tamworth put the group through their paces with weekly sessions at Tamworth Boxing Club to prepare them.

Quantity Surveyor Tony Arnold and Senior Site Manager Gianni Ciavardoni also took part, but weren’t available for the photo.

Noel said: “We did it together as a group – we managed to escape serious injury!

“It was muddy and dirty but good fun. We literally pushed and pulled each other over the obstacles so it was a real team effort, which is what it was all about for us.

“There are lots of cargo nets you have to go under, sewer pipes in mud, climbing over hay bales and logs, running through forests and then the swim – you can’t touch the bottom and the water was absolutely freezing!

“But the water slide was the best bit – we all got soaked and you get a bit of speed up on that!

“I’m still recovering but we all lost a bit of weight so we’re all healthier and fitter, which is a bonus. Tony says we’ve got to keep training now we’ve started!”

The fundraising was another team effort, as Noel explains. “We reached out to our families, friends and suppliers and they all chipped in.

“We’re just delighted to raise this money because we see so many staff from the hospital coming and going every day so it’s great to be able to put something back.”

Nurse Lead for the new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre (UECC) Liz Slevin does two or three ‘tough mudder’ events a year and also completed the course, in one hour 45 minutes, while Senior Project Manager Debbie White for the UECC did it three years ago.

Debbie said: “We’re very grateful for their effort. I know how hard it is to do so it’s definitely a job well done.”

Fundraising and Engagement Manager Georgie Westley said: “We’re delighted that the group from Tilbury Douglas have raised this money for Well Wishers and thank them very much for their efforts.

“We’ve forged a close working relationship with the company over the course of the project and really value their support.”