VOLUNTEERS are being called upon to roll up their sleeves and put on their motivational hats to help out at this year's Oxford Town and Gown.

Thousands of runners are expected to flood the city streets and walk, skip or run the charity 10K raising funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

But without an army of about 100 volunteers the Oxford Town and Gown would not have kept running for 36 years.

For those who can't don their trainers and sign up to run the event, organisers are inviting people to help out on the day.

Muscular Dystrophy UK’s head of events Emma Jones-Parry said: "Without our fantastic volunteers, the Oxford Town and Gown 10k would not be able to happen.

"Volunteers helping out on the day are not only vital to the success of the event, they make a huge difference to the overall experience of our hundreds of runners.

"Every year, we see volunteers from all walks of life, including students and university staff. Why not join us and them for the 2017 event?"

Volunteers would be in charge of a number of activities including water station marshalling, baggage team coordinator, goody bag distributor, information tent and administrator as well as marshalling different parts of the course..

This year's race hopes to smash the £2m mark in raising funds to support research into fighting the muscle-wasting condition.

The Oxford Town and Gown organisers have said businesses and individuals are signing up in their droves and they are hopeful of reaching the milestone.

Clair Wannell, from Swindon, is running the Oxford race for her friend’s son, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

She said: “It is a nice easy race for someone who’s not used to running, and children and people in wheelchairs can take part too. It’s a nice family day out, and it’s a good chance to raise awareness about the condition.

"You don’t realise how much you depend on your muscles, but your tongue is a muscle, your heart is a muscle, you use your muscles to breathe. That’s why it’s so important to help raise funds to fight muscle wasting conditions.

"I’d encourage anyone in Oxford who is thinking of running the race to give it a go."

Last year's event attracted about 4,000 runners who in a sea of orange flooded through Oxford's historic streets to help raise £135,000.

This year the organisers who to crank that up to 4,500 runners for the event which starts and finishes in University Parks.

To sign up see townandgown10k.com or to volunteer http://bit.ly/2ohUhtI