BEAMING with pride – and showing no trace of the cleft palate she was born with – Niamh Donohoe is just one of the great reasons to take part in this year’s OX5 Run.

Nine-year-old Niamh was born with a hole in her palate and underwent surgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Now mum Louise is urging runners to take part in this year’s annual OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on March 20, to raise cash for the Oxford Children’s Hospital, which is on the JR site.

After being born, Niamh was unable to feed and suffered a ‘blue episode”, where the skin turns blue because of a lack of oxygen.

Mrs Donohoe, 36, said: “We had no idea that there was anything wrong until about five hours after Niamh was born.

“We learned that Niamh had a v-shaped cleft in the roof of her mouth.

“She could not suck, so milk had to be squeezed into her with a syringe. And if she sneezed when she was being fed, the food would come out of her nose.”

At six months old, Niamh, who attends St Mary’s Primary School, in Bicester, had a operation at the JR to repair the cleft. Since then she has had hearing tests, speech therapy and regular check-ups at the hospital.

Mrs Donohoe said: “Niamh is now perfect, with no sign that she ever had a cleft palate, and we are so grateful.”

Organisers hope to break last year’s run record of £57,000 for the hospital.

Mrs Donohoe said: “I wanted to get fit after Christmas and joined a gym. Then I decided to go for it and enter the OX5.

“I have never run five miles before but I am training and looking forward to taking part and Niamh and her sister Aisling will be cheering me on!”

Money raised from last year’s run was used to buy new medical equipment and upgrade facilities.

l To get involved in the run, visit orhcharitablefunds.nhs.uk or call 01865 743428.