What started out as a simple fundraiser for the Marine Corp Ball has turned into one of the top physical fitness endurance events in the area. The  3rd annual Swamp Romp at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot drew 493 top athletes and assorted teams from around the region to help raise money. Event co-ordinator Chuck Culpepper said the first event drew 325 runners. In just two years it’s grown to nearly 500, he said in a news release. Port Royal resident Christopher Morton was the overall winner with an exhausting time of 45:12. Molly Jones of Mt. Pleasant was the first female to finish with a time of 58:16. See more photos at www.yourislandnews.com. All photos by Bob Sofaly.

[caption id="attachment_8495" align="alignleft" width="208"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8495" title="Swamp Romp, 1" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-1-208x300.jpg" alt="" width="208" height="300" /></a> A woman, muddy and exhausted, climbs over the last of the barriers on her way to finish line during the third annual Swamp Romp on Saturday at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot.[/caption]

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_8496" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-4.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8496" title="Swamp Romp, 4" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-4-300x192.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="192" /></a> Men from the same team help each other crawl over the muddy embankment on their way to the finish line during the third annual Swamp Romp on Saturday at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot.[/caption]

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_8497" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-6.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8497" title="Swamp Romp, 6" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-6-300x201.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="201" /></a> More than 500 men, women and teenagers, in teams of six, took part in the third A]annual Swamp Romp on Saturday at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot. The five-mile fund raiser was littered with muddy ditches with steep, slick walls and open to the public.[/caption]

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_8498" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-7.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8498" title="Swamp Romp, 7" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-7-300x170.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="170" /></a> Christopher Morton pushes his way through muddy, algae filled water in one of the ditches on his way to victory during the annual Swamp Romp last Saturday at Parris Island.[/caption]

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_8499" align="alignleft" width="258"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-romp-8.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8499" title="Swamp romp, 8" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-romp-8-258x300.jpg" alt="" width="258" height="300" /></a> Men and women get the same "encouragement" as they make it over the fist obstacle during the Third Annual Swamp Romp on Saturday at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot.[/caption]

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_8500" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-9.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8500" title="Swamp Romp, 9" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-9-300x258.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="258" /></a> Gunnery Sgt.James Deberry, right, gives a safety briefing to participants in varying degrees of athletic wear, prior to the start of the third annual Swamp Ramp on Saturday at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot.[/caption]

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[caption id="attachment_8501" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-11.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8501" title="Swamp Romp, 11" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Swamp-Romp-11-300x184.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="184" /></a> Two men low crawl under white tape while constantly being sprayed with water during the Swamp Romp on Saturday at Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot.[/caption]

<div></div>