MORE than 1,200 have signed up to the Oxford Mail’s OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace, and time is running out to break the record with less than 24 hours to get involved.

Registration for Sunday’s run to raise money for Oxford Children’s Hospital ends at 11.45pm tonight.

There were 1,460 sign-ups last year, with a record 1,200 taking to the start line and more than £114,000 raised – the most in the event’s 13- year history.

Oxford Children’s Hospital spokeswoman Sarah Vaccari said: “We are delighted that more than 1,200 people have signed up for this Sunday’s OX5 Run – so we are all set for a really good day.

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“We’d love to have even more taking part and helping us to do even more for our young patients. There’s still just time for people to enter if they sign up today.

“Please don’t feel you have to be a superfast runner, walkers are most welcome, as this event is all about the community coming together to support the Oxford Children’s Hospital.”

With the deadline for signups nearly over, the charity urged runners to up their fundraising efforts.

Several businesses have been leading the way in terms of money raised so far, and sitting top of the pile at the moment is estate agents Scott Fraser with an impressive £2,800.

Managing director David Blythman said: “Having worked in Headington for the past two decades, I’ve seen the positive influence the hospital community has had on the local area.

“The nature of our business means that over the years, I have worked for thousands of people either working at the hospitals, or at unfortunate times, needing to rely of the excellent services that the multiple hospitals in Oxford have to offer.”

“Supporting the Children’s Hospital through doing the OX5 RUN wasn’t a decision we had to make, it was just a natural part of working within the local community.”

Staff from Clarendon Business Centres – which has offices in five county locations – have raised £1,150.

The run will be started by former Arsenal and England footballer Martin Keown, who lives in Oxford, and Magnus Cameron, nine – a former patient at the children’s hospital.

Online entries for the race, sponsored by Oxford recruitment firm Allen Associates for the seventh year running, close at 11.45pm tonight.