Second annual Mud Run this weekend
Published 7:00 am Thursday, August 18, 2016
No Turning Back is hosting their second annual Mud Run on Saturday Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. to raise runds for their scholarship programs.
NTB is a local organization founded in memory of Jake Moeller, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2014.
Moeller had just returned from mission trips in Maine and Texas before the accident occured.
“That was something he was very passionate about was mission work,” Moeller’s sister Laura White said.
After his passing, White said his family found a card tacked to his wall that read, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”
“Once he was gone it kind of took on a whole life of it’s own. We started an organization to fund mission trips for mainly youth or people who work all year long, sometimes two jobs to earn money for mission trips,” White said. “The point of the organization is to help people who have the heart for missions but not the funding.”
This year, the organization gave five local high school graduates cash scholarships with money that was raised from last year’s Mud Run.
“That gift that we can give away is like keeping part of him here with us,” White said.
The organization also donates to other local charities and organizations engaged in similar efforts, Jake’s brother Bo Moeller said.
“That was his heart to share the gospel here and abroad. We didn’t want that passion to go to waste,” Bo Moeller said.
The 5K course runs through the Moeller’s farm which is surrounded on the east and west side by a creek, White said.
The route has changed from last year’s to now include new obstacles, lots of mud and paths through the farm’s old dairy barn, White said.
Last year, more than 500 runners registered the morning of the race and 450 have already registered this year, White said.
Onsite registration will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Runners can register before Saturday online at http://www.active.com/picayune-ms/running/mud-runs-races/no-turning-back-mud-run-2016?int.
“It’s really a pretty cool thing that people thought about Jake and think enough about our family to continue to support us this far out,” White said.
Registration is $40 per runner and includes food after the event.
“We’re not going to put you through this torture and then not feed you,” White said.
The Moeller’s farm is located at 98 Moeller Road in Picayune.
“Jake was an avid outdoorsman, liked to hunt and fish…It just seemed like something he’d enjoy doing,” Bo Moeller said. “We’ve been blessed to have a place to do it on our family farm.”