A GROUP of scientists who are working to find a cure for muscular dystrophy are backing this year's Town and Gown fundraising run for research into the debilitating condition.

The team from Oxford University is urging people to sign up to the Oxford Mail-backed run in Oxford city centre on May 15.

The 10k run raises money for Muscular Dystrophy UK, which funds the team's work into the condition.

Spokeswoman for the team, Karin Meijboom, 25, said: "There are about 30 of us overall who work on research into muscular dystrophy but it really is needed to fight the disease.

"I can only hope that people see just how much work goes on and will be encouraged to sign up the Town and Gown race, which raises money for our research and for finding a cure for the condition.

"The charity have not only funded my PHD and improved my life but they have helped so many."

The charity works with 70,000 people living with muscle-wasting conditions in the UK and brings together people affected by more than 60 rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions.

These conditions affect one in every 1,000 people.

Ms Meijboom, from the Netherlands, said she enjoyed studying in Oxford so much she could not bring herself to leave.

She said: "I came to Oxford about a year and a half ago but it really is such an amazing city I didn't want to go.

"All of us here have begun training for the Town and Gown on Monday, Wednesdays and Friday and I'm sure we're going to be very successful.

"The charity is so amazing and we have a personal connection to it, so we'll have a reason to keep going."

Professor Matthew Wood, who leads the lab research, said he was hopeful it would lead to one day finding a cure for the condition.

He said: “The research we undertake at the lab here in Oxford involves finding a treatment to correct the abnormality of the genes of people with the most severe form of muscular dystrophy, as opposed to replacing them.

"By correcting the gene, the body will be able to create a protein, which will keep the muscles healthy and prevent them from degenerating.

"The work we're doing is extremely promising.”

It costs £23 to £25 for over-16s to enter the 10k run on Sunday, May 15. Places on the 3k run for nine- to 15-year-olds are £12. Register at townandgown10k.com/OxMail