OX5 Run: 1,000 runners this year? (From Witney Gazette)

OX5 Run: 1,000 runners this year?

2:21pm Monday 26th January 2009 in News By Andrew Ffrench

THE OX5 Run — the biggest fundraising event of the year for Oxford Children’s Hospital — will take place on Sunday, April 19.

Last year, about 700 runners signed up for the race around Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, and organisers are hoping the number of entrants will this year top the 1,000 mark.

Last week, recruitment consultants Allen Associates and Motorworld were unveiled as the two major sponsors for the race.

Rob Allen and wife Kate, who have run Allen Associates at Oxford Business Park for the past ten years, said 11 members of staff had already volunteered to take part on the day.

Lyn Molony, marketing manager for the region’s Motorworld group, said: “We are putting together a team of about ten staff to run on the day She added that the Midcounties Co-op, which Motorworld is part of, recently raised £140,000 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Jason Donovan started the OX5 Run two years ago, but it is not yet known who will start it this year.

Sarah Vaccari, a spokesman for the Oxford Children’s Hospital, said: “We are delighted that these two important companies are supporting the OX5 Run. We are aiming in 2009 for 1,000 entries.

“The race usually raises about £50,000 for the hospital, which was only made possible through the support of local businesses.”

She added that money raised would go towards the Fund for Children, to buy new equipment, including computers for a new multi-media room to help patients email their friends and family.

The £30m children’s hospital opened in January, 2007, and treats 60,000 patients a year.