IT DIDN'T take much consultation for more than 30 members of staff at a Woodstock-based firm to sign up to raise money for Oxford Children's Hospital.

The team at property and construction consultancy Ridge will be running the OX5 Run again this year as part of a goal to raise £70,000 to mark 70 years in business.

Fundraising by staff at the Oxford branch of Ridge has started in earnest with the hope of attracting £2,000 for medical equipment and other aspects of children’s care at the hospital.

Training co-ordinator Kate Hardy said the team was excited about the run, which will take place at Blenheim Palace on Sunday, April 17.

She said: “We have been doing the OX5 Run for three or four years and we usually have about 15 or 20 people who take part.

“I think we have got more this year because it is part of Challenge70.

“We are trying to raise £70,000 because it is our 70th anniversary this year.

“The Oxford office is trying to raise £24,000 and hopefully between £1,000 and £2,000 will go to the OX5 Run.”

Ms Hardy, who lives in Upton, near Didcot, will be running for the fourth time.

She said: “Everybody is really looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be nice weather on the day.

“I enjoy it but I think I will be partly walking it this time because I have hurt my knee.

“I used to run a lot more regularly but a few years ago I did the Reading half marathon and that was what messed my knee up.

“We have someone on our team who does 100-mile runs all the time and someone else who has run across the desert."

Ridge offers services such as project management, building surveying, property consultancy and legal support services across the world.

Staff regularly support chosen charities and take part in one-off fundraising events each year such as Sport Relief.

But the Oxford Children's Hospital has been a regular beneficiary of the firm's fundraising exploits.

Ms Hardy, 24, said: “We usually have set charities every year, which we try to raise money for.

“We hold cake sales and raffles and things like that throughout the year.

“Our Bristol office has annual quizzes and raises a lot of money.

The OX5 Run is being sponsored by recruitment firm Allen Associates for the eighth year and more than 800 people have signed up to take part, including the Ridge team.

Last year’s event raised a total of £160,000 for the children’s hospital and in its 14 years the run has brought in more than £850,000.

To sponsor the team from Ridge visit justgiving.com/ridge-ox5