THERE are just 24 days to go. And organisers are hoping this year’s OX5 Run will prove to be a record-breaker.

So far a total of 950 people have signed up for the charity run, organised by the Oxford Mail, to raise money for the Oxford Children’s Hospital in Headington.

Among them is Didcot mum, Jenny Alleway, whose two-year-old son Harry has been rushed to hospital twice in an ambulance with breathing problems.

Mrs Alleway, 37, from Ancholme Close, said: “The first time I was told ‘we are going to send for an ambulance’, my heart just went, and I welled up.

“It was really scary, but the staff have been so good.

“They make everything so much easier.

“You can see some of the children there are really poorly, and we only had to stay a day. But it didn’t matter who you were, they would help you as much as possible.”

Harry had to stay overnight in the clinical decisions unit last May and in Drayson Ward in January after having problems breathing.

Doctors had to listen to Harry’s chest and treat him with an inhaler every two to four hours.

They are not sure yet if Harry has bad asthma or a virus, because of his age.

Mrs Alleway, a teacher, and husband Martyn, 32, also have a six-year-old son Joshua.

She is training for the five-mile OX5 Run on Sunday March 30 at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock.

Mrs Alleway said: “I decided to do it to say thank-you for all the help. The staff were so nice – looking after Harry so I could have a cup of tea. It was the little things.”

Children’s hospital spokeswoman Sarah Vaccari said: “We are so grateful to parents like Jenny who have been through tough times with their children but are still so keen to give something back to the Children’s Hospital.

“We now have 950 signed up for the run, so are heading for a record year.

“If you want to take part, please do sign up soon.”

The run, the hospital’s biggest annual fundraiser, last year raised a record £98,000 for new hospital equipment.

This year it is hoped to break through the £100,000 barrier.