THOUSANDS of people are making their final preparations for the Oxford Town and Gown 10k run. Among those taking part in the Oxford Mail backed race, which raises tens of thousands of pounds each year for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, on Sunday, May 12, is Kelly Sambrook, 37, who has personal reasons for taking part.

Her nephew, John Dixon, has a form of muscular dystrophy.

We have been following Kelly’s progress for the past few months and in her last race diary before the event, she reveals she may be joined by a familiar face on the start line.

PEOPLE often say that running is one of the best exercises for giving you a ‘buzz’.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case for everyone.

Training for the Oxford Town and Gown 10k has been really tough.

My knee started giving me problems from day one, with a good pair of running trainers and a support bandage only bringing temporary relief.

My GP recommended I see a physiotherapist, but work, life and study got in the way. The injury has made me feel like I am right back at the drawing board with my training – so much for the ‘running high’.

Still, having a very personal motivation for a run like this is a great way to keep you going.

My eight-year-old nephew John is as tough as a nut. He may have Duchenne muscular dystrophy but he doesn’t let anything get in the way of what he wants to do, whether it’s riding a bike – he has an amazing electric bicycle – or taking part in a race.

John is shortly to become the first person to take on the Oxford Town and Gown Junior race in a powered wheelchair.

After a great deal of fundraising and some tremendous support from family, friends and the local community, he is about to get his first powered-wheelchair.

It’s not just any old wheelchair. It’s an off-roader, which will mean that parks, countryside, beaches and all sorts of other fun places won’t be off-limits to him.

He is incredibly excited and has already picked the colour scheme – which is top secret.

He has been practising on test chairs to get ready to burn some rubber on race day.

There are currently treatments in clinical trial that may help to keep the muscles of boys like John, who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, stronger for much longer.

If they work, they could prevent him from having to face some very tough physical and mental challenges when he is still just a young man.

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is aiming to invest £1.6m in developing treatments like this by 2015.

The Town and Gown raises over £100,000 every year towards the charity’s work.

Everyone taking part will be helping to boost funding for research that could change people’s lives.

So for me, it may be back to the drawing board, but I am undeterred.

I’ve been walking to keep up my fitness whenever my knee leaves me unable to run, walking to and from work and to my partner’s house three miles away.

With exercise, I don’t believe in setting myself targets that I can’t possibly reach.

Instead I am working towards completing the 10k route through three sets of 20 minute runs – with a bit of fast walking in between.

I may not enjoy running and I may not tear over the finish line in a blaze of glory, but I am determined to adopt my nephew’s determined approach to life and complete the race.