TODAY is the final chance to join more than 1,200 fundraisers and businesses on the start line of the OX5 Run in aid of Oxford Children's Hospital.

The event takes place at Blenheim Palace on Sunday and a number of local firms - including recruitment firm Allen Associates - have urged people to sign up.

OX5 2018 - SIGN UP HERE

Oxford Mail:

The Handle Bar Cafe in St Michael's Street, Oxford, has assembled a team.

Co-owner Celine Wills, whose two children Beatrice, 6, and Hugo, 3, were born at the hospital, encouraged her team to sign up to the run.

She said: "I'm running the London Marathon this year and was looking for races around Oxfordshire beforehand - and saw the OX5 for Oxford Children's Hospital.

"Both my children were born at the hospital by emergency caesarean, the support from the staff was amazing.

"I asked around in the cafe and the response was fantastic - in fact we will be short of staff on Sunday now, which is quite funny.

"I had to stop anyone else signing up or we would have had to close."

The seven-strong team hoped to raise more than £1,000.

Mrs Wills added: "It's been really good for team bonding and hopefully we will raise as much as we possibly can.

"I have started running some yoga sessions for the staff outside of work as part of the training, they like to get together after work but it's normally in the pub, so I think they have enjoyed it."

Oxford estate agents Penny and Sinclair have been taking part since 2013 and will be once again on Sunday.

Director Oliver Hope said eight employees have signed up and already broken the £1,000 fundraising mark.

His two children, Thomas, 7, and Harry, 3, were born at the John Radcliffe Hospital which led to the firm's close involvement with the event.

He said: "Both myself and another director James Penny have small boys - and my two were born there and it was being there that made me aware of the wonderful children's hospital.

"A number of our team are runners but some are not and they've all been training hard for this and are pleased to support such a great cause.

He added: "It's really crucial for local firms to be involved with charities, and all of our offices are right in the middle of communities so we think it's even more important for us.

"We are heavily involved with Helen and Douglas House and continue to run the OX5 to support the hospital."

Sarah Vaccari, from the Oxford Children's Hospital charity, said: "We are thrilled to have over 1200 runners signed up for Sunday’s OX5 and we’ve seen a really positive response from local businesses in our community.

"There’s something special about local companies supporting local causes, and what we’ve really noticed is how much these businesses are focusing on their fundraising for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

"We’re hoping 2018 will be a bumper year and mean we can do lots of things in the hospital to make life that little bit easier for our young patients."

OX5 2018 - SIGN UP HERE