But a Gerogery business has given hope to some by offering a paid alternative event on the same day, so months of training don’t go to waste. 

Corryong’s Shea Bloom organised about 50 women to participate in Miss Muddy to raise awareness for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in honour Henty’s Ainslie Campbell.

She said the group had raised $6000 and contacted Miss Muddy organisers about a month ago to discuss the awareness run – with no indication of impending “financial ruin or strife”.

Of the 50 women, about a third had already purchased tickets and merchandise. 

“One girl doing it purchased her ticket only a week ago when they must have known,” Mrs Bloom said.

“For them to keep taking people’s money and allowing people to be out of pocket is pretty disappointing.”

Mrs Bloom said the money they raised for Melbourne Bioanalytics had not been affected, but it was still devastating. 

“We were all going to be dressed in blue – the foundation’s colour – to bring awareness to chronic fatigue syndrome for Ainslie who is bedridden,” she said.

“If we can’t do the run, we can’t get that awareness out about it so it’s pretty disappointing.”

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Mrs Bloom said it was extremely disappointing the company behind Miss Muddy – Events Move Enterprises – had not contacted those registered.

Allan Turner of Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and Events Move Enterprises, told Fairfax Media they delayed communication about financial difficulties “because there would be more panic if we did”.

Asked about conducting due diligence prior to buying Miss Muddy, Mr Turner said the “viciousness of the attacks” on the foundation “spurred us to opening the books totally”.

Mr Turner declined to disclose further information, including administrators’ details.

While Miss Muddy will not go ahead, Paintball Albury-Wodonga James Paterson said he could host a mud course on November 10 at his Dirty 30 track, though he could not do it for free. A portion of any fee would go to a Border charity.

Mr Paterson is not affiliated with Miss Muddy, Events Move Enterprises or Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation, and said he just wanted to help the women, including his friends, left in the lurch.

“They’ve been training for this for 12 months… now there’s no refund and the event isn’t going ahead,” he said. “We can’t compensate that loss of funds but we can provide them with the mud day they planned.”