THE Oxford Mail is offering its readers the chance to be among the first to sign up for next year’s OX5 Run and help raise funds for a good cause.

Readers can enter next April’s five-mile run around the Blenheim Palace grounds by returning the application form printed in today’s paper.

The Mail has teamed up with the Oxford Children’s Hospital to help get more than 1,000 people to enter the event.

Organisers hope to raise £65,000, which will be spent on new equipment requested by nursing staff, games and toys.

In this year’s OX5 Run more than 800 runners raised £57,000, a figure organisers are confident of topping in 2010.

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds spokesman Sarah Vaccari said: “The support we see from local people and businesses is truly spectacular.

“The money raised in April is already making a real difference to young patients across the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust.

“We are hoping that next year’s event will be even more successful and working with Oxford Mail readers and our sponsors Allen Associates and Motorworld, we are aiming at recruiting over 1,000 runners.”

Funding from this year’s race bought new equipment to help transfer sick babies between hospitals. The hospital is looking to update rooms on Tom’s Ward, which are used for children undergoing bowel or gut surgery.

The children’s hospital opened in January 2007 and cost £30m. It treats 65,000 children a year and is part of the £135m West Wing development.

Ms Vaccari’s three-year-old daughter Rosa had open-heart surgery at the hospital in May and is now living a normal life.

She added: “Many of those taking part in the past have first hand experience of the good work that is done at the Children’s Hospital – we are incredibly proud of the care and facilities here and it is wonderful to see so many people showing their support through the run.

“We hope that everyone will think about taking part. Blenheim Palace is a beautiful course to run and the atmosphere on the day is really special.”

It costs £10 to enter the race and runners must be 16 or over.

The entry form is available to download on this website or you can call 01865 743444 to register.