STAFF and students will swap their textbooks for trainers to run in what is hoped to be the biggest Oxford Town and Gown team yet.

The team from Oriel College have been the biggest group to enter the 10K for the past two years and this time around they already have 93 fundraisers ready and raring to go.

But the aim for the college team is to top 100 members to take on the event around the streets of Oxford next month for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

College team organiser David Archer said: “We have always entered a team and certainly, for the past two years, had the biggest with over 100 members last year and we hope to beat that this time.

“It includes everyone from students and staff – from the kitchen staff to academics and alumni.

“It is an event that everyone can get involved with and it is a great cause to support.”

Mr Archer and his colleague, the physics professor Andrew Boothroyd, are the driving force behind the college’s efforts to be the biggest team each year.

They said it had become a friendly challenge between other colleges and local schools to see who could sign up the most people and boost support for the charity.

Mr Archer said: “It is not about being the fastest, so we hope to get as many people to sign up as possible.

The national charity has been supported by the Oxford Town and Gown throughout its 37 year history.

All funds from the race go towards vital research and charity support for people living with the muscle-wasting condition.

This year’s event will be held on Sunday, May 13, and will once again start and finish at University Parks.

Last year’s event pulled in a record 4,476 runners and raised a total of £172,437 for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Runners will be taken round a course taking them onto South Parks Road, along Longwall Street, past the Sheldonian Theatre and on to Broad street, heading up Parks Road before looping round University Parks back to the event village.

Mr Archer added: “It is a great course for spectators and runners through the iconic streets of Oxford and is a nice day out with the family for many students.

“The event is also a great achievement to do and a really fun day.

“It is a great cause to be a part of along with thousands of other runners out on the streets all in support of Muscular Dystrophy UK.”

It is £25 to enter and will start at 10am on the Sunday.

To sponsor the Oriel College team, see justgiving.com/OrielCollege2018. To sign up for the race, go to townandgown10k.com/oxford