WITNEY MP David Cameron has raised £4,550 for the Oxford Children’s Hospital after competing in this year’s OX5 Run — a 10th of the total amount raised so far.

The money raised by Mr Cameron is a significant contribution towards the hospital’s £50,000 sponsorship target from the race.

So far, a total of £46,000 has been raised, already exceeding last year’s total of £35,000.

The Conservative Party leader started the five-mile race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock on Sunday, April 19, and took part along with more than 700 runners.

He told the Oxford Mail it was a great honour to start the OX5 Run – and went on to complete the course in 44 minutes and 44 seconds.

The race winner was Kidlington fireman Gary Crone, 38, who finished in under 29 minutes.

In December, the Witney MP got in shape by braving the cold water and mud in the annual Great Brook Run in Chadlington, near Chipping Norton, in his west Oxfordshire constituency.

Graham Brogden, head of community fundraising, said: “The generosity and warmth of feeling towards the children’s hospital is astounding, “I would like to thank every single person that took part in the event, as well as the Oxford Mail for organising it.

“We have almost reached the £50,000 goal we set ourselves and if everyone can send in the last of their sponsorship money I am confident we will beat that target.

“Such an amazing result really does show how people pull together even in the most difficult of times.”

The Children’s Hospital, on the John Radcliffe Hospital site, in Headington, opened in 2007, following a community fundraising campaign which raised £14m towards the overall £30m cost.

Money raised from this year’s OX5 Run, the seventh, will be used to buy new equipment.

One of the most-needed bits of kit is neurology equipment costing £20,000 which will help treat children with suspected neuro-muscular problems.

Staff also need a £175,000 MRI-compatible incubator for very young and premature babies.