Runners ready for a record-breaking Oxford Town and Gown 2018

More fundraisers than ever before are expected to flood city centre streets in their thousands on Sunday for the 10K fun run.

The annual event is held in support of Muscular Dystrophy UK and this year race founder Mike Cleaver will sound the klaxon to see off the runners.

Among those running will be about 100 pupils, staff and parents from Summer Field School in Summertown, Oxford.

The school’s director of studies David Wooley said: “It all started when we first entered a team about four or five years ago when a few keen runners from the staff put forward a small team.

“It has since really grown.”

The school will this year enter one of the biggest teams with runners taking part in either the 10k adult run or the 3k child run.

Mr Wooley added: “It is difficult and there will come a time when you think you can’t go on but the atmosphere is incredible and will carry you through.

“Something we noted in the past was the way pupils who had finished the junior race go on to really support those doing the 10k – that gives them a great boost.

“It is just such a great community event and a great local cause people can get behind and support.”

This year’s event will once again start from Oxford's University Parks with the junior event from 9.15am and the 10K event from 10am on Sunday.

A record-breaking number of runners are expected to pound the streets with 4,500 people signed up so far – up from the 4,476 people taking part last year.

There are already about 350 people signed up for the junior event, but runners will also have a chance to sign up on the day between 8am and 9.20am.

Muscular Dystrophy UK event manager Jessie Keighley said: “With over 4,800 people already signed up and more expected to join us on the day, this year is already our most popular Oxford Town and Gown ever.

“The support from our runners, as well as the council and everyone in Oxford who makes this event possible, has been fantastic.

“We can’t wait to see our supporters taking to the streets this weekend to turn Oxford orange for Muscular Dystrophy UK.”

The main event will take runners through the historic and picturesque streets of Oxford starting and finishing at University Parks.

Road closures around the event will come into force from 8am on the Sunday and remain in place until midday, although most roads will work on a rolling closure system where they will reopen after the last runner passes.

The main roads affected include Parks Road, Mansfield Road and Broad Street.

The event route remains almost exactly the same as the 2017 event with one minor change towards the end of the course.

The start will be on South Parks Road which is a five-minute walk from the event village where there will also be several stands and activities to help get runners warmed up.

The Oxford Town and Gown 2018 marks the 37th race in the event's history and in that time it has raised more than £1million for the charity.

Money raised over the four decades has helped fund vital research into finding a cure for the muscle-wasting condition muscular dystrophy.

Race founder Mike Cleaver, from Stonesfield near Witney, started the event in the 1980s as a cause close to his heart.

His son Daniel was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy at just six months old and passed away in 1990 aged 12 after battling the condition for several years.

In response to the support his son Daniel and family had received from Muscular Dystrophy UK, he rallied friends and family to stage the first ever Town and Gown in 1982 – pulling in 700 people.

Mr Cleaver previously said he could not believe how much the event has grown.

He added: “All those years have gone by and it is still the same. Oxford is obviously a fantastic venue.

“I am so proud of it, and that Daniel has inspired thousands.

“It is humbling to know it is still happening today.”

For race details townandgown10k.com/oxford or to sponsor the Summer Fields team see justgiving.com/fundraising/sftownandgown2018