Racing towards a target (From Witney Gazette)

Racing towards a target

8:41am Tuesday 11th April 2006 in Witney By The Page Turner

RUNNERS in this year's OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace are on course to raise a massive £50,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign.

On Sunday more than 1,300 runners completed the five-mile course in bright sunshine to raise money for the charity.

The event, organised by the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times, sister papers to the Witney Gazette, was so popular that the start of the race had to be delayed for a few minutes, as runners queued in their cars to get into the palace grounds.

More than 1,000 people signed up beforehand, including teams from dozens of businesses, but there was a rush from late entrants, with a further 300 signing up on the day.

The race was started by Dale Harris, 24, from Normandy Crescent, Cowley, and his daughter Mya, three.

Mya, who pressed the starting horn shortly after 10.30am, was born with spina bifida in 2002, and has already had at least six operations as a patient on the children's ward of the John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington.

Mr Harris said: "Mya needed a lot of medical intervention from day one, so this cause is obviously very close to our hearts."

The expected £50,000 from this event will make a major contribution towards raising the final £2.5m from the community for the new hospital, which is set to open at the JR in January next year.

Race organiser Tom Mitchell said: "This is our best year ever and we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response from the public.

"Once everyone gets their sponsorship through we will be on target to raise £50,000."

Competitors who raised £100 will receive a free OX5 T-shirt, those who raised £200 will get a jumper, and those who raised £300 will be given a fleece. Les Newell, 30, from Abingdon Amblers, was first home in 27 minutes 53 seconds. He said: "I did the race four years ago. It was hard work, particularly on the downhill bits."

He overtook Tim Wright, 22, from Banbury Harriers, to take the race a short distance from the line, finishing in 27 minutes and 58 seconds.

Mr Wright, from Harewood Road, Banbury, said: "It was tough. I was leading for the whole of the race and Les just went past me right at the end."

Richard Beaumont, 34, who runs for Woodstock Harriers, finished third in 28 minutes and four seconds.