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'Mess Fest' In Mahopac Raises $80,000 For Pediatric Cancer

MAHOPAC, N.Y. -- The Ty Louis Campbell Foundation held its fourth annual Muddy Puddles "Mess Fest" in Mahopac -- and many kids messily celebrated the premise of kids being kids.

Ryan Flockhart, 10, of East Setauket, traveled to Mahopac to get his hands dirty in memory of his cousin Ty Louis Campbell.

Ryan Flockhart, 10, of East Setauket, traveled to Mahopac to get his hands dirty in memory of his cousin Ty Louis Campbell.

Photo Credit: Jane Haslam Photography, for the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation
This little girl gives an entirely new meaning to finger painting at the 2016 Muddy Puddles "Mess Fest" at Kiwi Country Day Camp.

This little girl gives an entirely new meaning to finger painting at the 2016 Muddy Puddles "Mess Fest" at Kiwi Country Day Camp.

Photo Credit: Jane Haslam Photography, for the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation
Ready. Set. Food fight! A group of kids at the 2016 Muddy Puddles "Mess Fest" gather in the food fight tent.

Ready. Set. Food fight! A group of kids at the 2016 Muddy Puddles "Mess Fest" gather in the food fight tent.

Photo Credit: Jane Haslam Photography, for the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation

"Attendees enjoyed a beautiful day of fun, laughter and mud in honor of children who are battling or passed away due to pediatric cancer," organizers noted.

As the foundation website notes,

"The Muddy Puddles Project was inspired by 5-year-old 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."

The Mess Fest is held annually to remember Ty. The young boy from Pawling lost his battle with brain cancer in October 2012. The event also raises funds for the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation, in support of pediatric cancer research.

This year, about 2,500 guests from the tristate area attended. Parents, friends, volunteers and children participated in activities including a mud pit, food fights, zip lining, splatter paint and more.

One of the attendees was 10-year-old Ryan Flockhart, who traveled from East Setauket to get his hands dirty in memory of his cousin Ty.

Last year, the Mess Fest raised $75,000 for the foundation, and this year's event surpassed it, raising over $80,000.

To find out more about the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation, visit its website. The Muddy Puddles Project also offers do-it-yourself Mini Mess Fest kits.

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