Singer Jason Donovan visited Oxford Children's Hospital to meet young patients and staff - and pick up his race number for tomorrow's OX5 Run.

Jason, 39, star of ITV drama series Echo Beach, is one of the hospital's biggest supporters and last year started the five-mile race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock.

But the father-of-two has been so impressed with the work of staff at the £30m hospital, on the site of the John Radcliffe, that he has decided to run the course himself.

Jason, who has a home in Oxfordshire, picked up his race number 521 on Thursday and said: "The more time I spend at this hospital the more impressed I am, and I wanted to do whatever I could to highlight the wonderful work they do here.

"When I was filming Echo Beach down in Newquay, I would run along the beach every day between shoots. But the OX5 Run will be a big challenge for me because I usually only run for about three miles at a time.

"I'll be pushing my own boundaries but I'm really excited about it because it's a great opportunity to raise money for a really good cause."

Jason and his partner Angela, and two children Jemma, eight, and Zac, seven, spend half their time in Oxfordshire and half their time in London.

The singer added: "I really feel at home here - I love the county of Oxfordshire and it gives me a good buzz to be able to do something for a local charity like this.

"I'm not aiming to run the race in any particular time because I know it will be challenging. I'm going to blend in with the crowd."

One of the patients Jason met was nine-year-old Jasmine Cook, from Bracknell, Berkshire, who suffers epilepsy.

Her mother, Nicola Lynch, 32, said: "The staff here are wonderful and I hope Jason and the other runners raise thousands of pounds."

Nursing staff including Becky Cusens, 24, Aimee Field, 26, and Naomi Antliff, 23, are among those taking part.

Naomi said: "When I was five I went to see Jason in Joseph - it was my first musical - so I'm really pleased he has decided to run."

More than 550 people have signed up in advance, but runners are being reminded that they can pay £12.50 to register on the day, after 9am, in time for the 10.30am start.

Last year, 800 runners raised a total of £50,000 for Chox, which has so far collected £13.8m towards its £15m goal - half the cost of the £30m hospital, which opened over a year ago.

Chox spokesman Claire Hooper said: "We really appreciate Jason's continuing support and we are delighted that he has agreed to run the race."

To print out an entry form visit oxfordmail.co.uk and click on the OX5 Run logo.

Meanwhile, Jason is to have his own radio show broadcast to listeners in Oxfordshire.

He can be heard on Fox FM from Sunday. The Sunday Night with Jason Donovan show will run between 7pm and 10pm every Sunday featuring a mix of music, chat and celebrity interviews.