IT'S a case of mums on the run for two Yarnton women taking part in this year's OX5 run after seeing first hand the work of staff at the Oxford Children's Hospital.

Paula Thomas, 37, and Julie Millard, 41, both have children who have had to spend a lot of time in hospital.

Mrs Thomas's daughter Harriet was born with a rare skin condition. She had a giant mole on her back and dozens of other oversized moles on the rest of her body.

Since she was born she has had 30 operations. Tissue expanders (a balloon under the skin) were used to stretch the skin, and the mole area of skin was then cut out and the stretched skin pulled over it.

Harriet is now six and the moles have all been removed, which means instead of higher than normal risks of cancer, the chances of her contracting the disease are the same as the next person.

Mrs Thomas said she wanted to do the run because she was so grateful for the kindness and care hospital staff had always shown Harriet.

She said: "Because she has been in and out so much and we have had first class treatment we just felt we want to give something back, and doing this and giving sponsorship is our way of helping."

Mrs Millard's son Harry has suffered with severe eczema and asthma since he was six months old.

She also wanted to run the OX5 to raise money for the children's hospital after seeing the outstanding work of staff in dealing with her son's condition.

She said: "I think we are so lucky to have such a great resource on our doorstep and I just want to give something back and say thank you for all the help and support we have received."

While Mrs Thomas goes running several times a week and is looking for a reasonable time on the five mile run, Mrs Millard is planning to walk around the course with Harry and Harriet.

She added: "Where we come is irrelevant.

"I think a lot of people from the medical practice we use in Yarnton will be coming down to support us, which will be great."