WONDER Woman charity champion Phil Grant has vowed to raise more cash than ever in this year’s Town and Gown run.

Runners will gather on Sunday, May 10 to create a sea of orange shirts for the run for Muscular Dystrophy UK, a charity that fights against the muscle-wasting condition that affects over 70,000 people in Britain.

Dedicated supporter Mr Grant has already raised more than £10,000 over the past five years and will be there to encourage those taking part in the 10k run.

The Chipping Norton dad has been supporting the charity since his son Chris, 28, who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, was four years old.

The 51-year-old father of two said: “I’ve done about 20 years' worth of races. I’m not running this year, but I am going to put the fun in the run by cheering on people and getting involved.

“I will be dressed up as Wonder Woman or Snow White, I’m aiming to support everyone doing it and make money for the charity.”

Duchenne muscular dystrophy currently affects about 2,500 people in the UK, while about 100 babies are born with the condition each year.

It is caused by genetic mutations on the ‘X’ chromosome, so almost all of those affected are male.

Most will use a wheelchair by the age of 12 and face life-threatening health problems with their heart and lungs by their late teens.

Chris was born with the genetic condition, which gradually causes the muscles to weaken and leads to an increasing level of disability.

Now he is in a wheelchair and requires equipment and full-time support from his mother, Debbie, 48, to live his life.

Mr Grant added: “Chris could walk, and then with callipers, but now he is in a wheelchair.

“It’s a very nasty disease, but it is just the way it is, you just get on with it.

“He has done the run before two or three times. Either me or his brother Mike have pushed him around.

“We get support and advice from the charity on the best ways to care for Chris.”

More people than ever took part in the annual 10km run last year, raising £150,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Muscular Dystrophy UK spokeswoman Emma Warren said: “Having once run our Oxford Town and Gown 10k as a sail and crow’s nest with son Chris’s wheelchair transformed into a pirate ship, Phil has always been prepared to stand out from the crowd and have fun while making an invaluable contribution to the charity.”

Last year Mr Grant was given an award by the charity’s president, BBC TV’s Question of Sport presenter Sue Barker.