Hikers can go the distance for cancer sufferers in Oxford to help build a new treatment centre for thousands of patients.

More than 1,000 fundraisers are needed to put on their walking boots and trek up to 50 miles along The Ridgeway, Britain's oldest roadway.

The non-competitive 24-hour Maggie's Megahike will support the new Maggie's Centre at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Maggie's Centre is expected to open in two years and provide treatment and diagnostic help to thousands of people coping with all types of cancer from across Oxfordshire.

Sharon Campbell-Martin, Megahike coordinator, said: "People's commitment, generosity and determination to help Maggie's support those who need it most has been incredible.

"I guarantee that this will be one unforgettable day for all involved."

The hike starts from the CADi headquarters in Wallingford on June 10 and teams of four can choose whether to take part in sponsored 15m, 25m or 50m treks.

In the past year, 3,000 people have used temporary cancer information and support at Churchill Hospital.

The centres were set up by Maggie Keswick Jencks, who died from cancer in 1996, and believed there was a need for treating cancer sufferers as individuals instead of just patients.

Staff on hand at the centre will include nurses, psychologists and cancer support specialists such as nutritionists, art therapists and interpreters.

Former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, pictured second from right, has lost four relatives and two friends to cancer and is taking part in June's Maggie's Megahike, which is sponsored by Scottish and Southern Energy.

Ms Ellis said: "Cancer defines you. It is the membership of a club you never asked to join. It labels you; you're a patient number, a file, a medical record. Maggie's Centres give you back your identity and your voice."

To register for the event call 0141 3303369 or email Megahike@scottish-southern.co.uk