A MAN who had brain surgery is marking 10 years of fundraising for the hospital which changed his life, by backing the OX5 Run.

Andrew Baker, from Didcot, has raised more than £28,000 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital in Headington over the last decade.

He can’t run the five miles himself because of his health, but this will be the fourth time he has rallied a team.

The 24-year-old has worked hard to support the hospital where doctors operated on his brain to remove a haematoma when he was 12 years old.

He has organised a series of fundraising football tournaments and parties over the years, and this year is again rallying a team of friends to take on the OX5 Run.

Mr Baker said: “It is quite incredible really that it is 10 years this month and it will be good to get some more people to go to the OX5.

“It’s my way of saying thanks.

“I started fundraising when I was 14 at St Birinus School, Didcot, when friends helped me raise £1,000, and it just carried on.

“I’m really pleased to be closing in on £30,000.”

This year’s run – the 11th – at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, is on March 10.

It is hoped the event, which is organised by the Oxford Mail, will beat last year’s fundraising total of £60,000.

Mr Baker, from Great Western Drive, Didcot, was born with a brain tumour causing neurological problems.

He made a good recovery after the operation in 2001. But symptoms such as balance and mobility problems reappeared in 2009.

His OX5 team includes Mark Thompson, 25, Sarah Bayliss, 22, Adam Greenough, 25, Kyle Lyford, 25, Lee Mack-rory, 24, and Charlie Thompson, 16, all from Didcot, as well as Michele Hobbs, 32, and Simon Smith, 32, from High Wycombe, and Sarah Paxford, 37, and Christa Paxford, 15, from Oxford.

Children’s hospital spokeswoman Sarah Vaccari, said: “We are incredibly grateful for all he has done despite having to cope with his own health problems.

“He really is an amazing young man.”

Oxford Mail: ox5 enter here button

Enter online via the above button, by calling 01865 743444 or by downloading and posting in our  OX5 2013 entry form.pdf

If you or someone else has a special reason for entering then please email our OX5 Reporter Katriona Ormiston