THE parents of Liberty Baker will take part in the Oxford Half Marathon in memory of their daughter who would have celebrated her 17th birthday next month.

Team Liberty will see 17 friends and family of the teenager, who was killed by a dangerous driver two years ago, run the 13.1-mile race to raise thousands in cash for a host of charities.

Paul and Maureen Baker, who have taken part in the event before, are hoping to add to the £25,000 raised since their daughter's death in June 2014.

Mr Baker, of Thorney Leys, Witney said: "Since Liberty was killed we have been on a journey of grief. Losing your child is the hardest thing you will ever face.

"Family and friends suggested light jogging during our darkest days, which made us feel more focused almost immediately and helped through the fog of grief.

"Soon afterwards we entered a 5K, 10k’s and half marathons including the Vitality Oxford Half Marathon last year - the races helps us focus on something other than our grief."

The 48-year-old added funds raised would go towards Libfest - a one-day music festival and 5k fun run in Witney - as well as Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Seesaw Child Bereavement and Children Hospices Art.

Brigid Greaney, a family friend, said Team Liberty had been training hard during the the summer.

She added: "We chose the marathon as it is such a beautiful city setting with fantastic history and scenery and coincides with what would have been Liberty’s 17th Birthday.

"The whole team is working hard to raise as much money as we can and we cannot wait to cross the finish line knowing we have helped the family in some way."

Broad Street will be the new start and finish of the half marathon as organisers hope to make it "one of the best half marathons in the world".

Last year the race started and ended in St Giles’ for the first time and saw more than 7,500 people take part to raise funds for a variety of different charities.

Now, organisers of the Vitality half marathon believe the Broad's Sheldonian Theatre, Weston Library and Balliol College will offer the best surroundings to provide a "spectacular" beginning and end to the event.

Liberty died when she was hit by a car driven by Robert Blackwell in June 2014 while she was walking to school with friends.

Blackwell, who was jailed for four years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, received a text message moments before his car mounted a kerb in Curbridge Road in Witney and struck The Henry Box School pupil.

People can still take part in the race and sign up at oxfordhalf.co.uk

To support Team Liberty visit gofundme.com/2cdcc499