Motorworld technician Neil Drury is warming up for the London Marathon by taking part in this year’s Oxford Mail OX5 Run.

The car dealership is one of the sponsors of this year’s five-mile run, which is taking place at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, on Sunday, April 19.

Organisers are hoping more than 1,000 people take part this year, to raise more than £50,000 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Father-of-one Mr Drury, 34, from Kidlington, will lead a team of about 10 runners from Motorworld, which is part of the Midcounties Co-op.

He said: “I’m training flat out at the moment for the London Marathon, which is the week after the OX5 Run.

“The OX5 Run should be a good warm-up for the marathon, and I’m really looking forward to running the course with my colleagues.

“I have run the race four or five times now and I always enjoy it — it would be great if we could raise lots of money for the Children’s Hospital, which is a really good cause.”

Mr Drury said his daughter Lois, 11, was treated for pneumonia before the children’s hospital opened in January 2007.

He added: “I think it’s reassuring for parents to know that there’s a really good children’s hospital right on their doorstep.

“My wife Louise and Lois have promised to come along on the day to support me.”

Lyn Molony, marketing manager for Motorworld, added: “The team is coming together really well and we hope the staff will raise lots of money in sponsorship.

“Friends and family will come along on the day to support the runners, and it’s a very good team-building exercise.

“We have been strong supporters of the children’s hospital over the years, and we are looking forward to this year’s event.”

Other Motorworld staff taking part include general manager Richard Shepherd, 45, warranty administrator Jeanette Turner, and service manager John Hale.

Sarah Vaccari, a spokesman for the hospital, said: “It’s fantastic that Motorworld is supporting the children’s hospital in this way, and we really hope that their enthusiasm will motivate other companies in Oxford and beyond to put teams forward for the race.

“Local support for the children’s hospital always inspires us and it would be fantastic if we could make this our best ever year.”

This year is the seventh time the race has been run around the grounds of the stately home, and it is one of the hospital’s biggest fundraising events of the year.

The £30m hospital opened following a community campaign to raise £15m towards its cost.

The fund raised £14m and any money now raised goes towards new equipment for children at the hospital.

To take part in the event, which is also being sponsored by Oxford-based Allen Associates, fill in and return the entry form which can be downloaded at oxfordmail.co.uk/ox5run