August 9, 2021, Carmel, N.Y: The Muddy Puddles Project celebrated its eighth annual Muddy Puddles “Mess Fest” on Saturday, August 7th at Kiwi Country Day Camp in Mahopac, NY, raising more than $50,000 for childhood cancer research. The Muddy Puddles ‘Mess Fest’ is a day filled with fun for the whole family but most importantly, it is a fundraising vehicle for the Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation to support innovative research with the goal of improving long-term survival rates and minimizing side-effects for children with cancer. 

This large-scale community fundraising event honors the life of Ty Louis Campbell, a young boy from Pawling, NY who lost his battle to brain cancer at the age of five in 2012. In remembrance of Ty, Mess Fest is devoted to setting free the inner child in all who attend as they laugh, play, and get messy in celebration of those who can’t. 

“When I asked my son what he wanted to do when he was all better, he told me he wanted to jump in a muddy puddle,” said Cindy Campbell, Ty’s mom and founder of the Muddy Puddles Project. “The simplicity of that dream is what being a kid is all about, and that’s why it was so important to me to celebrate the very essence of childhood by giving kids a vehicle to get all sorts of messy in honor of those who can’t.”

Highlights from the day included splatter paint, pie tosses, slip ‘n’ slides, food fights, muddy puddle jumping, and even a visit from exclusive US charity partner, Peppa Pig, a beloved children’s cartoon character known for her love of muddy puddles. Under the observation of Covid safety regulations, approximately 800 guests from the tri-state area attended the event, including 100 complimentary VIP guests who have been impacted by a childhood cancer diagnosis. The VIP pavilion was generously sponsored by our partners at Giant Kids, a nonprofit organization in Mahopac that helps families impacted by a childhood cancer diagnosis.

“My son, Robbie, attends Mess Fest as a VIP every year, and it is his favorite day of the year,” said Jennifer Clayton. “He lost his big brother, my son Joey, to cancer and I’m grateful to the Muddy Puddles Project for giving Robbie the opportunity to celebrate him in such a significant way while raising money for much-needed research.”

ABOUT THE MUDDY PUDDLES PROJECT

The Muddy Puddles Project is a celebration of children and childhood. It was inspired by Ty Campbell, a little boy who absolutely LOVED Peppa Pig and dreamed of jumping in muddy puddles just like her when his cancer was cured. The project embodies the act of kids being kids in honor of those who can’t.  At its core, The Muddy Puddles Project is a vehicle to remind parents to stop sweating the small stuff; but it is also a fundraising platform for the Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation in support of childhood cancer research.  In 2017, The Muddy Puddles Project became the official charity partner of Peppa Pig, enabling the nonprofit to meet more families, far and wide, and raise awareness for childhood cancer. For more information, visit muddypuddlesproject.org. 

ABOUT THE TY LOUIS CAMPBELL FOUNDATION Founded in September 2012, the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation is a nonprofit organization (EIN: 45-1858390) that funds innovative research and clinical trials specifically geared toward the treatment of the most aggressive childhood cancers. Our mission is to help fund the intelligence and technology that will improve long-term survival rates and minimize side-effects for children diagnosed with cancer, while helping to care for families when their child is in treatment by providing financial assistance and uplifting experiences.  For more information about the foundation, visit thetlcfoundation.org.

Thank you to everyone who participated in Mess Fest 2021!