A NEW trophy is being launched for next year’s OX5 Run to encourage more businesses to enter their teams.

Organisers are hoping more than 1,000 runners enter the race, which is backed by the Oxford Mail and is expected to raise £65,000 for Oxford Children’s Hospital.

This year’s five-mile run around Blenheim Palace in Woodstock – the seventh –was the most successful to date, with more than 800 runners raising £57,000.

Organisers want to do even better in 2010, and are appealing for individual runners, and business teams, to come forward so they can get at least 1,000 people taking part on Sunday, April 18.

In a bid to get more companies to enter teams of runners, Allen Associates, the Oxfordshire recruitment consultants sponsoring the race, have created the new Corporate Cup.

It will be an additional trophy on offer alongside the OX5 Cup, which has been awarded to the team with the lowest aggregate time of its top five finishers.

Kate Allen, managing director of Allen Associates, said: “We’re delighted to launch the Corporate Cup for the OX5 Run. We’ll be awarding the trophy to the best business effort of fundraising and involvement in the event.

“Our aim is to encourage companies both large and small to put Sunday, April 18, in their diary and enter a team.

“The run is a brilliant goal for the New Year in terms of getting fit, team building and raising funds for the hospital – all in one go.

“We want to throw out a challenge to Oxfordshire’s business leaders to lead by example, by taking part in the race themselves, and getting a team together from their company for race day.

“We think this approach could inspire a loyal following and bring a feelgood factor into workplaces.

“Employees or company departments could even compete to help raise the most funds.

“We’re looking forward to running again on the day as a team.”

The cup will be awarded to the business that has: l Demonstrated plenty of enthusiasm and team spirit l Raised lots of money for the hospital along the way l Involved the whole company, including employees, customers and suppliers, in fundraising l Put in the best overall corporate team effort on the day.

Hospital spokesman Penny Hambridge said: “I hope the new cup encourages lots of businesses to enter teams for the race.”