SHERYL Gascoigne, the ex-wife of former England football star Paul, was in Oxford yesterday to raise awareness of domestic violence.

Ms Gascoigne — who has spoken openly about her abusive relationship to the former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder — was taking part in the Mascarathon, a charity run to raise money for Refuge, the national domestic violence charity for women and children.

She was joined by daughter Bianca Gascoigne, one of her children from a previous marriage.

They ran a two-mile stretch starting from Debenhams, Magdalen Street.

Ms Gascoigne said: “I became involved with Refuge in 1999.

“Two women a week were dying as a result of domestic violence then, and they still are now.

“The figures should have gone down.

“That’s why events such as this are so important in raising awareness.”

The Benefit and Refuge Mascarathon sees a host of fundraisers and celebrities run in relay from Scotland to London.

Each of the participants will run two miles each to mark the two women a week who lose their lives to domestic violence.

Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge, said: “We want to empower women with essential life-changing information to help them keep safe and live a life free from violence and fear.”