A MUM from East Oxford will be taking on a half marathon to raise money for the hospice that cares for her daughter.

Emily Tammam is running the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday October 16 for the second time as part of the Helen & Douglas House team who care for her daughter, Neve, who has brain cancer.

Last year, she raised over £7,800 for the hospice off Cowley Road, as part of a team of 17 runners, who raised more than £19,000 for the charity, which cares for children and bereaved families across the county.

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The Oxford Half Marathon is flat 13.1-mile route which starts in the city centre and passes through Old Marston village, the River Cherwell, Oxford University's Lady Margaret Hall, before finishing on Parks Road.

Ms Tammam said: “Running the Oxford Half last year for Helen & Douglas House was an incredible honour for me. I had never done anything like this at all but watching Helen & Douglas House care for my daughter over the past year, it felt like the least that I could do.

“I also knew that having a challenge like this, which I had declared publicly, would ensure that I got out running regularly and that this would be of huge benefit to me personally, for my mental health and ability to sustain caring for my daughter, who is dying from a brain tumour.

“What I could not have anticipated was the incredible feeling of running through the streets of Oxford, on the day and the rush of adrenaline that came from seeing so many of my friends and family out there, supporting us.

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“Seeing other Helen & Douglas House runners, some familiar and others strangers, but all in their orange tops, made me quite emotional.

“Neve was there on the day too and this meant the world to me, running in her name, fundraising and supporting the charity that really has become her second family and second home.

“The support from Helen & Douglas House, in the run up to the race and on the day, meant that I knew how precious and appreciated our fundraising was and what a difference it really was making, to children like Neve and families like ours.

“I had no idea I could do something like a half marathon but it turned out to be one of the most positive days I can remember in a long time, in so many ways, physically and emotionally.”

You can register to join the hospice team running the marathon here: https://www.helenanddouglas.org.uk/event/oxford-half-marathon/

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi