Titan Macquarie Mud Run is a fantastic way to get out, keep fit, and have some great sporting fun with family, friends, and the community — all for a good cause.

Money raised from the annual Dubbo institution funds some wonderful local initiatives; with an ancient Inuit watercraft the latest healthy lifestyle investment the Mud Run committee have made for the Orana region.

Their Community Kayak Project involves a dozen or so of the craft being set up beside the beautiful Macquarie River for locals who want to have a try at some paddling good times.

“The Mud Run has been around for 13 years as an annual event, and all profits go back into the community,” event organiser Rod Fardell said.

“We’ve contributed over $1 million in infrastructure and community recreational projects promoting mental health and well-being,” he added.

This year’s spend includes the water-based initiative that all outdoor-minded locals are being invited to get involved with.

“We bought a shipping container, kayaks and safety equipment and set it all up at Sandy Beach on the Macquarie River, everything you need to go out and try this

fun sport.

“It’s designed so that community organisations and the like can have free access to it. We spent about $20,000 setting it up, it was one of the initiatives we decided to spend our money on this year.”

Groups just need to make contact and bring themselves down to the river for some cool canoeing. There is no individual hiring, however, you must come from an organisation. Participants must be over 14 years old and be able to swim 200-metres competently.

“They just need to contact us as a group with a nominated Group Leader from your organisation, we give them a safety briefing, they complete our waiver and hire agreement and away they go!

“You don’t need much expertise, they’re very stable, virtually impossible to tip, and anyone can master them in a few minutes.

Many groups are already looking to get involved, and there’s even a set journey for each group.

“We have a designated safety route that goes between the two bridges, that being Erskine Street and Tamworth Street,” Rod explained.

“We have some wonderful organisations who have already expressed an interest in using the kayaks, that being Apollo House and Jo Leader, Wambangalang, and Dinawans.”

Kayak project coordinator, Jo Collins, added that paddling along the river is a fantastic outdoor activity for our hot western summers.

“We’ve got a couple of doubles and maybe eight or so single ones, we’ve got everything; the kayaks, life jackets, and all other equipment you need,” she added.

The only thing to bring is yourself, a few friends, and being prepared for some mild exercise and beautiful relaxing scenery, she revealed.

“We just need a bit of time to organise, so please arrange your free hire time early, a safety briefing and a waiver, and a minimum of seven people,” Jo said.

“We also need someone who is prepared to take a lead role of the group, and you must be able to swim,” she concluded.

To get involved or for more information, contact the team from Titan Macquarie Mud Run.