Mudstock 2008 benefitting the Epilepsy Foundation

I know you expect nothing less from me, so here is my latest project to engage and get people involved.

When I started at LUCRUM I found out that my manager was heavily involved with the Epilepsy Foundation and that there was a fundraiser this weekend.  A mud volleyball tournament called Mudstock 2008.

So of course I cajoled and browbeat all my co-workers and friends and put together a team.  I started with 11 participants but by the morning of, I had only 8.  But we played anyway and had a fantastic time.

Our BEFORE picture

Thanks Jae & Marcia for letting me borrow your tent, it was a huge hit.  With all our stuff and being sweaty and muddy all day, it was nice having a nice big space to relax under in between games.  We played 7 games with about a 30-45 min wait in between sometimes.  Sometimes we played 2 in a row, other times we had to wait.

They had you play 7 teams in the beginning to determine what division you would play in based on your wins/losses.  With the rain delay and all that, we didn’t start tournament play until around 5pm.  By that time I was losing teammates like the Bengals (sorry Keith) and I had to make a decision to just quit for the day.  But we had one win out of the whole day and it was against a team where we were probably twice their age.  (you only had to be 16 to play) When tournament play started it was single elimination by then and we would’ve been out in the first round…I was down to 5 players at that time.

Needless to say, I was sore all day Sunday and still walking crooked on Monday.  All pics can be found here:

Jacinta’s Album

Dayton Daily News

I wrote about the event in the company blog….here is what it said:

This weekend LUCRUM employees and some of our friends participated in a fundraising event for the Epilepsy Foundation in Dayton, Ohio.  The event, called Mudstock 2008, raised $85K for the organization and brought over 2,400 people together all in the name of mud…Mud Volleyball that is!

Since I was bringing the mack daddy of all tents, an 18′x22′ white monstrosity of a tent, I started off at 6am and got to the fields at 6:30.  Lucky for me, because I could drive the SUV right into the field and to a good people watching spot.  This saved me from trekking all the poles and stuff all the way from the parking lot.

We all had a great time and talk about team bonding!  All your ideals and character assessments go right through the window when playing mud volleyball.  I mean, how dignified can your Vice President be when he’s covered head to toe in mud?

Our playing field...we are ankle deep

Between games we’d play cards in our huge tent (next year we’re charging admission), or nap….oh, and we played LCR.  But without money or drinking involved it only lasted a few rounds before we needed new entertainment.  With 2,400 people all around us that wasn’t hard to do.  We pitched tent right next to the showers so it was fun to see folks shuffling up to the water covered in mud.

There were a few bands that played, plenty of food and drink. I’d say the organization did a top notch job of keeping it all together.

Next year we’re definitely dressing up.  We saw a team in cowboy gear and another with viking hats.  Some dressed for prom with tuxedo shirts.

Thanks to everyone who participated and I hope to see more of you out there next year!