See all the pictures from Sunday's OX5 here 

MORE than 1,000 dedicated fundraisers completed a record-breaking OX5 Run yesterday, helping the event smash the £1m barrier.

Blenheim Palace was awash with colourful fancy dress and charitable spirit as runners, walkers and joggers completed the five-mile run in what looks certain to be a record year.

Six-year-old Anna Drysdale and Noah Castro, eight, who have both been battling cancer at the hospital, got the runners under way.

The 20-strong ‘Team Anna’ wore crazy wigs in honour of the youngster who was recently given the all-clear.

Her mum Keeley, from Chipping Norton, said: “It’s great to see so many people here, I think most people know somebody who has had a child treated at the hospital.

“It’s nice to be able to say thank you for what they did for Anna.”

Noah gave the 1,000-plus runners their starting orders then watched the bright orange T-shirts of Team Noah, along with friends and teachers from Queen Emma’s Primary School in Witney, begin the five-mile run.

Beth’s Bees also caught the eye as they swarmed around Blenheim raising thousands in the process.

Julia Spargo, whose daughter Beth was treated at the hospital for many years after being born with a cleft palate, dislocated hips and breathing problems, once again assembled the cohort of bees – 54 in total, who this year raised more than £3,500.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled – it’s my favourite day of the year.

“To get this many people out on a Sunday morning means a lot to me and just shows the incredible support there is for the charity.

“I’m so grateful, even now Beth’s main problems have been solved we have had a huge team come out who still care about the hospital.”

One of Beth’s Bees, Sarah Rendell from Enslow was the first woman across the line in a time of 35 minutes 7 seconds.

The 45-year-old said: “It’s great to be the first women to finish but I just want to raise awareness for the children’s hospital and raise money for the charity.

“If you do one run a year, make it this one – it’s an incredible event.”

Team Martha returned for another year to continue to thank the hospital for looking after seven-year-old Martha Hanlon during her long battle with leukaemia.

Her mum Eve said: “It’s incredibly special for us, it’s a way for our family to keep giving back to the hospital.

“It’s also a way of us marking Martha’s recovery - she’s doing so well, she had a check up on Friday and she’s moved to yearly check ups from one every six months, which is fantastic.”

Overall race winner, 23-year-old Owen Stepney, finished 30 seconds ahead of the competition in a time of 27 minutes 26 seconds.

Staff at the hospital were well represented, with the team from Kamran’s Ward – the hospital’s specialist cancer unit – dressed in fairy wings while the children’s day care team and many more hospital staff also took part.

With £115,000 pledged in donations before the race began and more expected to come, last year’s fundraising record of £126,000 looks set to be beaten.

Children’s hospital charity CEO Douglas Graham also confirmed that yesterday’s efforts mean more than £1m has now raised by the event since its inception in 2003.

He said: “It was my second OX5 Run and it’s just getting better and better - there are more runners than last year and they have raised more money than at this stage this year.

“It’s all about improving our children’s services and the care we provide our patients.

“The event has now raised more than £1m since it began, which is a phenomenal achievement.”