THE Oxford Mail’s annual charity run got off the starting blocks yesterday with organisers urging runners to get involved.

The ninth Ox5 Run, in aid of Oxford Children’s Hospital, will take place at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on Sunday, March 20.

Jo Coady, Oxford Mail promotion manager, said: “We run this event to support a great local charity.

“And the run has grown every year we have done it – we have more and more runners, and more and more sponsorship.”

In April this year, more than 800 completed the five-mile course, and raised £57,000 for the charity.

Sarah Vaccari, of Oxford Children’s Hospital, is taking part again this year.

She said the event was always well supported and she thought next year’s event could be the best yet.

She said: “We are thrilled to be here at Blenheim preparing for our ninth Oxford Mail Ox5 Run. It is such a beautiful course and for such a fantastic cause.

“Last time, we raised £57,000 for medical equipment and much better facilities for the children and their parents who visit the hospital. About 65,000 children go there every year.”

Recruitment firm Allen Associates has been sponsoring the event for three years.

Director Rob Allen, who will also be running next year, said the hospital was an incredibly imporatant and worthwhile cause.

He said: “The hospital is there for people, and this is a great way of giving something back to our clients and the community.”

The hospital was built in 2006 on the John Radcliffe Hospital site after fundraisers raised more than £14m, and Mrs Vaccari said the Oxford Mail’s support in the campaign to get it built had been ‘central’.

She said: “It is a cause the paper has long championed.”

The Duke of Marlborough, who owns Blenheim, said he had visited the children’s hospital and it was a great place.

Mrs Vaccari added: “We are also very grateful to the Duke for allowing us to use these wonderful grounds.

“We really hope readers get behind the event and make the 2011 Ox5 Run the most successful yet.”

Mr Allen added: “The hospital is a world class organisation and the people of Oxfordshire raised a hell of a lot of money in order for it to be built.

“This is a great opportunity for Oxfordshire to show its continued support for the hospital.”

To get involved in next year’s run, visit orh charitable funds.nhs.uk or call 01865 743428