Professor Sir Andrew Pollard is among over 650 people getting ready to take part in the annual OX5 fun run in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital tomorrow.
Prof Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, is a regular OX5 runner and has already pledged his support for the event which, over its 20 years, has raised more than £1million to provide extra support for local children in hospital.
The five-mile fun run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace, sponsored by local recruitment agency Allen Associates and supported by the Oxford Mail, is the biggest annual fundraiser for the hospital, which looks after thousands of children from across the county and beyond.
Runners and teams of all abilities (aged 10 and over) can run, jog or walk the stunning Blenheim Palace course.
Last year's event was virtual, with runners and walkers asked to complete five miles close to their homes. Even so, it still raised £100,000 that made a difference across the John Radcliffe, Churchill, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and Horton General hospitals.
As usual there will be a virtual warm up with Oxford Zumba king George Martini at around 10am and the race starts at 10.30am.
There will be messages of support from young patients and hospital staff, your own runner’s number and of course a medal sent to you on completion.
Sarah Vaccari of Oxford Hospitals Charity said: "This event is usually our biggest fundraiser of the year for the Children’s Hospital and with the support of our local community we really hope can still raise as much as possible to make a difference to the thousands of children looked after by our hospital teams."
Another OX5 regular is Phil Rose, from Abingdon, who has entered the event for the past nine years.
His daughter Maizie, now 11, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma – a rare form of childhood cancer that affects just over 100 children a year in the UK - when she was two.
She underwent treatment on Kamran’s Ward at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, where Mr Rose praised the "incredible" care and compassion that the family received.
He is racing to thank the hospital for saving his daughter's life nearly a decade ago.
Team Maizie, which is made up of family and friends, has raised thousands over the years.
Mr Rose said: "I’ve always said that as long as I am alive, I’ll get involved and support the hospital that saved my daughter’s life, and nearly a decade later I’m still sticking to that promise.”
You can sign up online until midnight tonight or in person tomorrow if you arrive early. It costs £35 to enter; £17.50 for children.
Go to https://www.hospitalcharity.co.uk/ox5run
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