ESTATE agents Savills will be hoping to put as much space as possible between themselves and their neighbours when they take part in Oxford’s annual Town & Gown race this month.

A 19-strong team from the agent’s Botley office in West Way, Oxford, will be lining up for the race on Sunday, May 15, and as team leader Rob Linnell revealed, there’s plenty of healthy rivalry to spur them on.

Associate director Rob Linnell, 39, explained: “Savills has been entering a team in the Town & Gown for around five years now and it is very competitive.

“We run an internal competition between our various departments using runners times and placings.

“There is a trophy and small prize for the winning department, but it is more the prestige of winning that matters.”

He continued: “We have a broad cross-section of runners: some fast, some slow, some who walk and everything in between.

“And it’s not just the young who take part, there are more runners over 40 than under.”

Savills agreed to lend their time and efforts to the Town & Gown after learning how it raises funds for research into Muscular Dystrophy.   Muscular Dystrophy is usually diagnosed in children aged between three and five. Sufferers usually die in their 20s, after their respiratory muscles fail.

Now in its 30th year, the Town & Gown 10k is the most successful sports event in the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s 50-year history and regularly attracts more than 4,000 entrants, raising more than £1m for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Mr Linnell added: “The Town & Gown is good fun and enables us to raise money for a great charity.

“We usually raise around £1,000 each year and we love taking part.

“There is a great atmosphere. We have bright red and yellow running vests so it is easy to spot other team members among the thousands of other runners. And we get a lot of support from friends, family and other office members positioned along the route.

“The children, especially, get very involved.”

Mr Linnell added: “It is a good family occasion and we would recommend it to other companies who want to get involved in charity and have fun doing it.”

The 2011 Town & Gown run is on May 15.

To enter, see muscular-dystrophy.org/oxford or call 020 7803 4820.