STAFF at a department store in Oxford will today shake buckets to raise funds for the city’s children’s hospital — and encourage people to take part in this year’s OX5 Run.

Debenhams’ staff will be collecting money for the children’s hospital at the store in Magdalen Street, between 10am and 2pm.

The Oxford Mail OX5 Run is in its seventh year, and this year the race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock takes place on Sunday, April 19.

Organisers are hoping that up to 1,000 runners will take part in the event, which in previous years has raised up to £50,000.

Debenhams floor manager Paul Hobbs said: “Every sale and competition time we invite the children’s hospital in to collect donations.

“We are also going the extra mile by entering a team in the OX5 Run, and we’d like colleagues and shoppers alike to join in the fun of the run!”

The collection at the store in November raised £1,500 for the children’s hospital, which treats 65,000 youngsters every year.

The children’s hospital, which opened in January 2007, is part of the £135m West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

Graham Brogden, head of community fundraising for Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, said: “We are very grateful to our friends at Debenhams and their shoppers for their continued generosity towards the children’s hospital.

“We are hoping to make this year’s run the most successful yet and invite everyone to dust off their trainers and take part.

“If you are in the city centre today, why not pop into Debehhams and show your support for the children’s hospital by making a donation, or signing up to take part in the OX5 Run.”

Sarah Vaccari, spokesman for the children’s hospital, added that 200 people have already signed up to take part.

She added: “That’s a very positive start and we are hoping that more than 1,000 people run this year.”

The two main sponsors for this year’s race are Oxford-based recruitment firm Allen Associates and Motorworld.

Both firms are putting forward teams to run in the race in a bid to win the annual team trophy, the OX5 Cup.

The trophy is awarded to the team with the lowest aggregate time of its top five finishers.

Eynsham-based Siemens won the trophy last year and are hoping to retain it this time round.

The children’s hospital opened following a community fundraising campaign which raised £14m towards the cost of the £30m hospital.

Entry for the OX5 Run is £10 per person, with each runner asked to try to raise at least £100 in sponsorship.

If you would like to enter, fill in and return the registration form printed on this page or call Penny Hambridge on 01865 743445 for details.

The form can also be downloaded from our website at oxfordmail .co.uk/ox5run affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk