Two cousins will pay homage to their wrestling hero by wearing fake moustaches for the OX5 Run.

Ray Puffitt and Dylan Hills have recruited some of their friends and urged other fans of Hulk Hogan to join them for the five-mile run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock on Sunday, April 19.

The race will raise money for Oxford Children’s Hospital, which treats 60,000 patients a year.

Mr Puffitt, 26, of Burford Road, Witney, a former pupil at the town’s Wood Green School, said he and Mr Hills would be dressing up as American wrestler and actor for the race.

He said: “We’re getting fake moustaches, T-shirts, shorts and bandanas to let people know that we are the Hulkamaniacs, and that we have been inspired to run by Hulk Hogan.

“I have seen him a lot on TV. He’s a wrestling legend and I thought it would be good fun to run in his honour. Dylan and I are trying to round up a few friends to do the same thing and join us on the day.

“I’m sure it will give people a good laugh and we’re glad to be running to raise money for a good cause at the same time.”

The pair have been training three times a week, and Mr Puffitt said: “Neither of us have done a great deal of running before and we wanted to take part in a charity race.”

The Oxford Mail OX5 Run is now in its seventh year, and organisers are hoping 1,000 people will take part.

In previous years, those taking part in the race have raised about £50,000 a year for the hospital, which is part of the West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

Sarah Vaccari, of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Ray and his friends are bound to make a really colourful spectacle on the day.

“It’s great to see such enthusiasm from people across Oxfordshire for this event. With nearly 500 people now signed up, this will definitely be a fantastic day.”

To take part, fill in the registration form on the page, call 01865 743445, or download an entry form from oxfordmail.co.uk/ox5run