Mudmoiselle in the Beaver Valley officially kicks off with cancer survivor mud ambassadors on site. To be able to take on the obstacles, the mud, the pushing, the pulling, the jumping, the climbing and the grueling uphill hike on the former ski hill of Talisman Resort is a very humbling experience. "We're running for people who take on battles bigger than this every day," Jennifer Wright, Community Fundraising Specialist with the Canadian Cancer Society says. "Mudmoiselle is an obstacle course that raises funds to help fight back against cancer, while proving that there are a whole lot of people who want to drag this disease through the dirt!"

Last September, 347 Mudmoiselles dragged cancer through the mud and raised an admirable $100,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society to throw in the ugly disease's face. This year, the Bluewater Community Office is hoping to push that total raised to $120,000 and more Mudmoiselles taking part.

Natalie Richardson, a local mother to identical twins, writer, and two-time cancer survivor is helping the Society push for a stronger Mudmoiselle turn out by taking part as a Mud Ambassador.

"Participating in Mudmoiselle gives me another opportunity to show my unending gratitude to my community and all of the resources that have been there to support my family and I in this difficult time," Richardson says.

Richardson was first diagnosed in April 2014 with stage 3b nodular melanoma, and was then diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer (unrelated to the melanoma) the following September. She is already a spokesperson for Save Your Skin Foundation and has been sharing her journey on her blog, 'Impatient Patient Momma'.

"Sharing my experience online helps my family, friends, and I cope with this roller coaster ride in a brutally honest and often comical way," Richardson states. She remains positive and inspirational to readers and friends and is sure to be an asset to the promotions of this year's Mudmoiselle run. "To know that funds from this event go directly back to Bluewater Canadian Cancer Society for the needs of cancer patients right here at home is enough to get me on that hill on September 10th!"

Richardson joined Jen Wright, the Mudmoiselle planning committee, some of last year's Top Fundraisers, and other cancer survivor Mud Ambassadors Sophie Voss, Pauline Kelly, Michelle Metcalf, and Carolyn Letourneau at Talisman on

Wednesday to officially launch the September run. Promotions will be rolling out online, on air and through print media over the next few weeks.

"We're really hoping to get some more Mudmoiselles up there this year and increase our fundraising efforts," Wright explains. "There's something in it for everyone and we're really looking forward to another day of inspirational fun!"

If you'd like to learn more about, or register for, Mudmoiselle in the Beaver Valley, please visit www.mudmoiselle.ca or call 519.376.6011. Early bird deadline is August 12th, after which the price to participate will increase.

source: media release, Canandian Cancer Society, Bluewater Community Office