A brain surgeon who starred on TV is swapping surgical gloves and scrubs for trainers to help his patients at the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Jay Jayamohan, a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon, starred in the TV series Brain Doctors filmed over nine months at the John Radcliffe Hospital and the children’s hospital that aired on BBC2 earlier this month.

Now he and heart surgeon colleague Kim Rajappan – who are both 42 – are using their feet rather than their hands to help patients by running the OX5 run to raise money for the children’s hospital.

Mr Jayamohan, a father-of-three who lives in a village near Thame, has seen the equipment the run has raised funds for and wants to contribute himself.

He said: “It is all the little things which make a big difference.

“The money has bought me some equipment for surgery in the past which really helps in operations. I was bought a special light which attaches to my head, like a really flashy bike light, but it brightens the operating table impressively well and was hugely gratefully received.

“And it is not just life and death stuff – anything which makes the children’s stay a little bit easier and means they aren’t as worried to come back again is hugely important. If they are scared or crying and remember it as a horrible experience then they are worried about coming back.”

He said all three of his children had received treatment at CHOX and, while he did not want to go into details, he knew what a service it provided.

He has worked at the JR for nine years and added: “It is for a cause very close to our hearts here, and if you are expecting everyone else to support the OX5 then you should do it yourself. The money makes the kids’ hospital as nice as possible for our patients and the family.”

The OX5 is at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock on Sunday, March 10.

The OX5 run, which is organised by the Oxford Mail and sponsored by Oxford-based recruitment firm Allen Associates, raised £60,000 for CHOX last year.

To enter call 01865 743444 or go to oxfordmail.co.uk/news/ox5run

You can contribute to Mr Jayamohan's efforts on his Just Giving page.