THREE hundred people have signed up to take part in this year’s OX5 Run, but that needs to double if Oxford Children’s Hospital is to reach its fundraising target.

The ninth OX5 Run will take place at Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, on Sunday, March 20, and organisers are hoping to break all previous records.

Last April, more than 850 runners completed the run and raised £57,000 for the hospital charity.

This year they want 1,000 runners to beat that total.

Runners complete a five-mile course around Blenheim and all sponsorship goes towards buying vital equipment for the hospital.

Taking part this year is Dr Russell Evans, a consultant paediatric anaesthetist at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Dr Evans, from North Leigh, near Witney, is running with his wife Caroline, 43, a teaching assistant at Springfield Primary School in Witney.

The 41-year-old said: “It is the first OX5 Run we have done and we are really looking forward to it – although I am a bit worried about the fancy dress my wife and three daughters will choose for me!”

Dr Evans, father to Hannah, 16, Jemima, 14 and Tilly, 11, added: “It’s a great charity and a fun way for anyone to raise money to help enhance the care we give to children at their families in the children’s hospital.”

Sarah Vaccari, from the OX5 fundraising team – who is also taking part – said: “It is fantastic to have 300 entrants signed up for the run already, but with just over five weeks remaining until the OX5 we are really hoping that many more people will sign up.

“The more who enter and raise sponsorship money, the more we are able to do to help the thousands of young patients, from newborns to teenagers, who come through our doors.

“What’s five miles running round the gorgeous grounds of Blenheim compared to what many of them have to deal with?”

Equipment purchased through last year’s OX5 included a cooling system used to help prevent children at risk of cerebral palsy from developing the disease.

Recruitment company Allen Associates, of Oxford, will sponsor the OX5 Run again this year.

Registration for the event is now open. To sign up go click the link on this page.

The Oxford Mail would also like to hear from other people planning to take part in the run.

Call the newsdesk on 01865 425444.