Lucy Robinson is all about raising money for local causes – and staying in shape while doing it.

Her most recent event, the XTRATUF Challenge, was a dirty affair with 15 participants getting muddy and wet at the city track to raise money for local woman Dawn Mathis to assist with her medical costs.

“Dawn and her family are a big part of the community, having been here for a very long time, and I think it’s important to help out like this in a small town like Wrangell,” Robinson said. “We all love life here and need to support each other. It’s what people should do, stick together when things are rough for each other.”

The event also included an obstacle course that included a 20-foot crawl in the dirt, traversing a dark, muddy hole, a trip through some muskeg, rolling in dirt, and a one-mile run through town, dressed in mud and the ubiquitous boots.

“It was incredibly dirty,” Robinson added. “You could walk on some of the dirt at the track and just sink into the mud up to your ankles. We purposely picked that location for the obstacle course because it was so muddy, but it was really dirty and fun.”

Robinson added that the event was specifically designed to have no winners aside from those who took home prizes in a drawing after the race – and that the event brought in more than $100 for Mathis and her family’s expenses.

Greg Knight

Runner John Pullman cruises into the finish line in downtown.

Rafael Nunez, a local bank manager and member of the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, took part in the event, saying it was fun for

him and a way to assist the community.

“I knew this was going to be fun and I like doing these kinds of outdoor events,” Nunez said. “Knowing that Dawn was the beneficiary of the money we raised felt good. I knew it was a good cause and wanted to help.”

Angerman’s Inc., which sponsored the event, donated to the prize drawings. Those prizes included a pair of brand new XTRATUF boots. Brett Woodbury donated the use of a culvert for the event and Jared Gross assisted Robinson in laying out the course.