Helen and Douglas House Bubble Rush - in pictures

An explosion of colour saw hundreds of people, young and old, take to the 5K course around Cutteslowe Park on Sunday.

Families were showered in pink and blue bubbles - without a drop of rain in sight - to help raise funds for the Headington-based hospice which cares for terminally ill children and young adults.

The biggest team of the day and back for the fifth year of the event was Cath and Richard Laurie from Langford, Bicester, running in memory of their son Thomas.

The youngster died aged nine from a rare genetic condition called Cockayne syndrome, which causes premature ageing.

He passed away at Helen and Douglas House in February 2014.

Mrs Laurie, who was joined by some 35 of her family and friends for the race, which for the last four years has been a Rainbow Run with paint.

She said: “We just really enjoy it and the bubble rush seemed even more fun this year - it was brilliant, colourful and felt great.”

Team Thomas has taken part every year the event has been staged including the first run just three months after Thomas passed away.

Mrs Laurie added: “Every single year we are so lucky to have so many friends supporting us and the good thing about the event is that it is for the family, everyone can get involved.

“Thomas would’ve loved all the colours and seeing the bubbles, although I am not convinced he would’ve wanted to go through them.

“These events are so important with funding so stretched at the moment especially, even now we are still supported by Helen and Douglas and without them I am not sure how we would’ve got through the last 10 years.

“For families starting out on the journey with medically fragile kids it is so important to have places like Helen and Douglas.”

Event coordinator Hannah Smart said more than 850 said they were taking on the 5K fun run in two waves from 10am and 11am.

Among them was six-year-old Sienna Lyon, from Wootton near Abingdon, who went round by Helen and Douglas nurse Hannah Jones.

The youngster has a genetic condition which she was diagnosed with at three months old and it effects her development.

Mum Kay said: “It is so positive to see all this support from the community, its amazing.”

She added: “It has been great to have the support from Helen and Douglas over the years since Sienna was ten-months-old really.

“When you first go it just feels like there was someone out there to help and a place which would always be there throughout Sienna’s life.”