A NEW charity ‘CHUN’ – chatter and run – is calling on people in Bicester to get off the sofa to join a 5km run – at night.

Running group Run Together in Bicester has joined forces with Sobell House hospice in Oxford to stage the ultimate night-time fundraiser on March 23.

Runners are invited to ‘Light the Night’ to raise funds to support specialist nurses to continue their care for those with life-limiting conditions.

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Among those taking part are Bicester ‘Jog Squad’, the Bicester branch of Run Together, who will be entering a team of beginners to Light the Night Bicester.

Michaela Waddup, leader of the Bicester group, said: “The average person would walk 5km (3.1 miles) in around 45 to 60 minutes, or at a more leisurely pace, it could take you around 90 minutes.

File photo of Sobell House's Moonlight Stroll fundraiser.

“If you decide to jog or run, some or all of it, your time will be faster, so it’s achievable for most of us with a pinch of self-confidence and a little bit of planning.”

The event has already attracted 200 fundraisers to sign up.

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Fundraisers can run, jog or walk the 5km course and the route will include glow sticks, neon zones, fire shows and more.

Sobell House event manager Cara Weller said: “This is an unmissable event open to all abilities and best enjoyed with friends and family from Bicester and surroundings.

Some of the team from Sobell House's Moonlight Stroll.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Run Together to promote this event and make it a truly fun and rewarding experience for everyone."

Run Together, a group created by England Athletics, was formed to help provide running opportunities to all abilities and in Bicester the group includes the Jog Squad for beginners and Bicester Striders for the more established runners.

Entry for the Light the Night event in Bicester is £15 for adults and £12 for children aged between 10 and 16, and all funds will go towards the work of Sobell House.

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The hospice has this year replaced its best-known fundraising event the ‘Moonlight Stroll’ after hosting it annual for the past 12 years in a bid to breathe new life into the charity calendar.

The Moonlight Stroll has taken place in Oxford every year since 2007, and saw hundreds of people stride through the city at night – often in fancy dress – following an eight or nine-mile route.

Now, organisers have changed the route and brought the new event to Bicester to help get more people involved in supporting the charity, whilst taking on a 5k fun run.

In Bicester it will be hosted on the former World War Two Bomber Station at Bicester Heritage.

Sign up online at lightthenight.org.uk/bicester-5k-fun-run