FORMER hospital administrator Harriet English is looking forward to running through the beautiful surroundings of Blenheim Palace in this year’s OX5 Run.
The 23-year-old, from Churchill, near Chipping Norton, worked at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford until December, when she joined the Plunkett Foundation, a charity which supports rural communities.
The foundation is based near the palace in Woodstock, so staff decided to enter a team of 10 runners in the five-mile race on Sunday, April 19, and call themselves the Plunkett Plodders.
Miss English, a former Chipping Norton School pupil, said: “After working for the hospital I know what a fantastic building the West Wing is, which of course includes the children’s hospital.
“The children’s hospital is a great cause, and we thought it would be a good team-building exercise to get staff together to take part in the OX5 Run.
“The OX5 Run goes through beautiful countryside around the grounds of the palace so I am really looking forward to it, although I know it will be tough because of the hills.”
Sarah Vaccari, a spokesman for the children’s hospital, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Plunkett Plodders to the run, and hope that many more local companies will step forward and enter teams.
“Getting a team together from work is great way to boost company morale and have a lot of fun, while raising money for a good cause.”
The main sponsors for this year’s race are Oxford-based recruitment firm Allen Associates and Motorworld.
In previous years, the OX5 Run has raised £50,000 for the children’s hospital and organisers are hoping that more than 1,000 runners take part this year. So far, about 400 have signed up.
The £30m children’s hospital is part of the £135m West Wing, which opened at the site of the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington in January, 2007. It now treats 60,000 people a year.
Entry for the OX5 Run is £10 per person in advance, or £12.50 on the day before 9.30am, and each runner is being asked to raise at least £100 in sponsorship.
To take part, fill in and return the registration form on this page or call 01865 743445.
The form can also be downloaded from our website at oxfordmail.co.uk/ox5run affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk
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