THE city’s children’s hospital today thanks Oxford Mail readers for your “amazing support” in hitting a new record with this year’s OX5 Run.

Fundraisers say March’s five-mile run around Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, is expected to raise more than £60,000, the biggest annual total to date.

Last year’s OX5 Run raised £58,000, but with 947 runners completing the course, organisers are set to beat the total for the first time.

Hospital fundraiser Penny Hambridge said: “So far the run has raised over £55,500 and we still have some money to reach us.

“I think we can be fairly confident that our final total will be over £60,000, which will make this the most successful OX5 Run ever.

“We are so grateful to all the runners for their fabulous efforts, both through running and raising sponsorship, and to the Oxford Mail for organising this tremendous local event.”

Luke Dickety, 16, a pupil at the Cooper School in Bicester and former children’s hospital patient, took part in this year’s run and completed the race in 47 minutes.

He said: “It was fantastic to be well enough to take part and run all five miles.

“I first came into the hospital when I was eight years old, and I had a very large tumour – the size of a satsuma – behind my eye.

“I’ve been backwards and forwards to the hospital since then and the staff have always been brilliant. I really care about the place, so the OX5 Run is very important to me.”

This year’s Community Cup winners was the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Prof Andrew Pollard said: “The group work to improve child health through immunisation, so to be able to do this event to support our own children’s hospital was really rewarding.

“We managed to get 29 of our staff to join our team, and we were really thrilled to win the Community Cup.

“We will definitely be back to take part next year and try to keep hold of our cup for another year.”

Ms Hambridge also thanked Oxford-based recruitment consultants Allen Associates, which help to cover the cost of staging the event. She added: “Next year will be the 10th anniversary and we will have to work very hard to top the success of this year’s event.

“But with the amazing support we receive we know it can be done.”

Over 50 teams took part, many in fancy dress costumes, including a group of nurses and friends on a hen weekend.

SERV – the volunteers who transport urgent blood and breast milk – pushed their motorbikes round, and the Fellowship of the Ox returned in full armour.

For the third year running, Oxfordshire fireman Gary Crone crossed the line first, in a winning time of just 28 minutes and 18 seconds.

In second place was Oxford Mail sports writer Ed Mezzetti and the first woman to cross the finishing line was Michelle Pank.

Siemens won the Challenge Cup and Unipart the Corporate Cup.

Last year, the £58,000 raised was spent on a cooling machine and monitor for babies born with a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Fundraisers say this year’s total will also be spent on vital new equipment.

The children’s hospital treats 65,000 children a year.

l To make a donation, text chox12 to 70070