Join us for Maggie's Ridgeway Megahike

Now in its third year, Maggie's Ridgeway MegaHike sees teams, families and individuals trek up to 50 miles to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.

Hikers choose their own challenge to complete within 24 hours.

Setting out from Wallingford, 'bronze' hikers trek to Chilton (15 miles), while silver hikers make their way to Wantage (26 miles) and gold hikers (adults only), walk 50 miles to Marlborough.

And all the money raised will be used to build a Maggie's Cancer Centre on the site of the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

The Oxford-educated architect and cancer sufferer Maggie Keswick Jencks was the inspiration for Maggie's Cancer Centres, a network of 'safe havens' across the country, offering support and advice in tranquil surroundings to the victims of cancer and their families.

Oxford is already home to an 'interim' Maggie's, which is based at the Churchill Hospital and deals with 5,000 enquiries each year.

But from 2012, the city has been earmarked to have its own state-of-the-art Maggie's, serving the thousands of people newly diagnosed with cancer in Oxfordshire each year.

The MegaHike takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 24, 25, 2008 and Oxford food writer and TV presenter, Sophie Grigson is also supporting the event.

She said: "I became involved with the Maggie's charity through one of their centres in Scotland and am thrilled that a Maggie's is going to be built here in Oxford. My mother died of cancer and although the treatment she received at the Churchill Hospital was fantastic, I think it would have been fabulous both for her, and for us her family, if there had been a Maggie's centre here at that time.

"I remember, for example, the shock at seeing my mother go through chemotherapy.

"To have a centre like Maggie's, where you can go for help and advice, and where sufferers can meet people who really understand what they are going through is invaluable."

Mrs Grigson is devising a recipe for an energy snack for the MegaHike.

She said: "I am full of admiration for everyone who takes part in this event and look forward to cooking for them and then cheering them on."

Since 2005, MegaHikers have raised £450,000 to help support and extend the Maggie's network of cancer caring centres across the UK.

Every entry to the Maggie's Ridgeway Megahike via the form printed in The Oxford Times or downloaded from oxfordtimes.co.uk - click here - is entered into a draw for one starter pack hiking kit provided by Cotswold Outdoor. The kit includes: sturdy, lightweight walking boots; thick hiking socks; waterproof jacket and trousers; fleece top; hat and gloves; head torch; walking poles; water container; and first aid and blister kit and will go to the team leader.

Richard Strofton, accounts business co-ordinator for Cotswold Outdoor said: "We are thrilled to be the official supplier at Maggie's Ridgeway MegaHike for the second year running.

"Maggie's is a tremendously worthwhile charity and MegaHike is one of the biggest and best outdoor charity events in the UK.

"Participants need to be properly kitted out for such a challenge and here at Cotswolds Outdoor we have a comprehensive range of outdoor clothing and equipment, which is available to MegaHikers at the discounted rate of 15 per cent.

"Participants can also visit our marquee at the event for any last-minute purchases, with ten per cent of all sales going straight to Maggie's."

Usual Newsquest rules apply. Closing date for entries to the draw is Monday, May 5, 2008.

Maggie's media manager, Anna Marriott said: "Everyone at Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres is thrilled that The Oxford Times has decided to be our media partner."

Nick Mullen, 26, and Jed Bowers, 40, from Bicester, took part in the MegaHike in 2007, raising £700.

Mr Mullen said: "Jed and I work for Southern Gas Network and people from Maggie's came along to work and gave a presentation on the MegaHike.

"It was tiring walking 25 miles, but cancer sufferers face a battle like that every day and we found it very rewarding to take part."

The registration fee for an adult team of four is £150 per team with a minimum fundraising target of £1500 per team. Individual adults pay £50 per person with a minimum fundraising target of £400 each. And children (10-17 years of age) pay £25 per person and are asked to try to raise £100 each.

For more information, you can call 0845 6026427 or visit maggiescentres.org The Oxford Times would like to hear from people taking part in this year's MegaHike.

Please contact Debbie Waite on 01865 425428 or email debbie.waite@nqo.com.