It’s that time of the year to scrub up with the Mississippi Mudbugs.

The Mudbugs will host their annual car wash fundraiser at Pizza Hut on Pemberton Square Boulevard at 8 a.m. Cost for a wash is $10 and Pizza Hut will donate 10 percent of its sales while the Mudbugs are there.

“All the proceeds will go to the Mississippi Mudbugs to travel to Roanoke, Va.,” said Sandy Hearn, director of the Challenger League in Vicksburg and coach of the Mississippi Mudbugs.

Virginia plays host to the Moose International 2016 Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational Aug. 18 through 22. Plane tickets for the team are estimated at $8,000. Bundled with other travel expenses, Hearn and the Mudbugs set a goal of $12,000.

To qualify for the softball invitational, teams have to come in first place at their state level of the Special Olympics and submit an interest form for an invitation.

“They had teams from Puerto Rico and Canada last year,” Hearn said. “We’re very serious about our ball and we want to have a good time.”

On the first day, the Mudbugs will compete in a pool play format where they face lower teams to be phased out in their respective division later. Saturday is when the team plays in a double elimination system. Once they advance past the second day they’ll move into the medal rounds.

The Mudbugs came in second last year in a lopsided loss to a team from Texas. It was the first time the team took home silver.

“Every body that plays is all good sports. They don’t get mad,” Hearn said. “They are competitive but the Mississippi Mudbugs don’t get mad. We’re there to have a good time.”

Last year the team made $800 before being rained out and unfortunately, Saturday’s forecast calls for an 80 percent of rain.

But rain won’t deter the jolly group of teammates from having fun being with Hearn and washing cars.

“The first year we did a car wash some didn’t know how to wash a car, some would start at the bottom and work up,” Hearn said. “Last year they did a whole lot better. We do get the water hoses and start playing but that’s what it’s all about, having a good time.”

Hearn’s dedication to the Special Olympics doesn’t go unnoticed. Her team loves her and was nominated for a child nutrition award where she was a top-five candidate.

“What I do with Special Olympics is not my job but a part of my life. The payment I do get is a smile on those kids’ faces,” Hearn said. “Those kids are a part of my life. I consider them apart of my family.”