LINDA Davies watched bricks and mortar being turned into the Oxford Children’s Hospital in 2007.

Now the 62-year-old is leading a group of women to get up and running to raise money for the Headington hospital.

Linda’s Ladies, from Bicester, will be taking on the five-mile OX5 Run on Sunday, for the 11th annual event at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock.

Mrs Davies, Lynne Stracey from Oxford, Sandra Ricks from Newton Purcell, Selina Davies from Stoke Lyne, Hannah Prior from Bicester, Helen Vallis also from Bicester, Lisa Warland, Vanessa Pitter, Janet Cudd, and Sheenagh Reynolds, all from Oxford, run together twice a week.

Mrs Davies said: “It is a really good cause. I was working at the John Radcliffe Hospital next door as an occupational therapy technician while the children’s hospital was being built. It was really interesting.

“I even saw the John Radcliffe being built. I lived in Oxford all my life until I moved to Bicester two years ago.”

Among the group of runners is Lynne Stracey, whose son Gabriel, now 15, was rushed into hospital with suspected meningitis four years ago.

The 49-year-old from Headington said: “It was very scary. I am a nurse myself but it is so different when it is your own child.

“The staff were really friendly and caring.

“Luckily, it turned out to be another nasty infection and he was only there for a couple of days but their care makes such a difference.”

Last year the run, which is organised by the Oxford Mail and sponsored by Oxford-based recruitment company Allen Associates, raised £60,000 for the hospital.

To join Linda’s ladies call her on 07766 823943 or go to upandrunninginoxford.co.uk. To take part in the OX5 Run, call 01865 743444, go to oxfordmail.co.uk/ news/ox5run