ORGANISERS of the Oxford Half Marathon are calling on volunteers to get this year’s event off to a flying start.

They want 300 county people to give up their time for October’s run, in aid of Oxford hospice Helen & Douglas House .

Roles include marshalling roads and handing out water, goodie bags and medals at the end of the 13.1-mile run.

The half marathon, in its second year, will take in Greater Leys, Cowley, Iffley Road, Abingdon Road and Littlemore.

Organisers hope the 70,000 volunteers who helped make the London 2012 Olympics a major success will inspire residents.

Tristan Hale, sports development officer at the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, which is supporting the event, said: “It is a great opportunity to be part of the event and a team.

“It is also a great opportunity for volunteers to enable more people to get active.

“It is a great day out, it is good fun. The Olympics has shown it is great to be part of a bigger team to deliver something.”

Individuals as well as clubs and teams can help out, with Oxford Academy and Oxford Brookes University among those signed up to help out so far.

Staff and volunteers at the East Oxford hospice, which provides respite and palliative care to children and young adults,will also help out.

They include Jess Gallagher, 25, who said: “It is a fun day, it is a great, positive atmosphere on the day. It helps the charity and is a nice way to meet new people.”

Volunteers who sign up for the Sunday, October 14, event will receive a full briefing and a free T-shirt, food and a goodie bag.

Mini Plant Oxford is sponsoring the half marathon, while the Oxford Mail is media partner.

Runners will leave Grenoble Road near the Kassam Stadium at 9.30am.

About 6,000 will pass city landmarks including the plant, Iffley Road Sports Complex – where Sir Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile – and Christ Church Meadow. It will finish at the Kassam Stadium.

To volunteer visit oxfordhalfmarathon.com , call 07816 847028 or email info@oxfordhalfmarathon.co.uk