WITH the 37th race set to be run and over a million pound fundraised, one little boy’s legacy remains at the heart of Oxford’s Town and Gown.

Thousands of runners will take to the streets of Oxford for the annual 10K for Muscular Dystrophy UK and at the helm, sounding the starting gun, will be event founder Mike Cleaver.

Mr Cleaver, from Stonesfield near Witney, started the event back in 1982, as a cause close to his heart.

His son Daniel was diagnosed with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle-wasting condition, at just six months old.

The 71-year-old said: “It was a very strong feeling, a very determined feeling to do something.

“When you have a personal reason connected to it, it drives you to do things as much as you can.”

Mr Cleaver rallied friends to stage the first Oxford Town and Gown, held then in Blenheim Park, and had around 700 participants in it.

He recalls heavy snowfall just days before the event and an organising team of just 10 responsible for making it happen.

Mr Cleaver also looks fondly back at the first event with Daniel also at the event at just three-years-old riding through the grounds in his electric wheelchair.

He said: “It was phenomenal. Obviously it was pre computer days, so everything was done the long way such as the registration which was done the day before because we didn’t think we would be able to cope on the morning.”

He added: “We had all the entries and cheques coming through to the house, I remember them covering the dining room table.”

For the first three years, the event was staged in Blenheim Park. Then with support from Kidlington Runners it moved to University Parks and last year was a record year with 4,476 runners.

Over the years, a number of famous faces have participated, such as then-Oxford United manager Jim Smith, Williams Formula One racing team founder Sir Frank Williams and Michael ‘Eddie the Eagle’ Edwards - whose false start caused some fun.

Mr Cleaver looks back on 1988 as a particular highlight in the event’s history.

It was the year ITV staged a 24-hour telethon which covered the race and included Mr Cleaver running with Daniel, then age 10, in a wheelchair.

The TV show, which can be seen in part on the Oxford Mail website, include both coverage of the race and an interview with the cleaver family, including Daniel's sister and Jennifer.

He died two years later in 1990 aged just 12.

In 2008, with the event still growing, Muscular Dystrophy UK took on the Oxford Town and Gown.

Mr Cleaver said: “I can’t believe it really, all those years have gone by and it is still the same. Oxford is obviously a fantastic venue.

He added: “I am so proud of it, and that Daniel has inspired thousands of people and the amount of research it has helped. It has now raised well over £1.5 million.

“I am so proud it has all come together the way it has and all because of one little boy who passed away in 1990.

“It is humbling to know it is still happening today.”

This year’s event will be held on Sunday, May 13, and is about £25 to enter the race which starts at 10am.

For details or to sign up see townandgown10k.com/oxford