TUNE in to radio station JACK fm to hear singer Jason Donovan and ‘Jedward’ urging listeners to support sick children by taking part in this year’s OX5 Run.
The former Neighbours star, who is appearing in the West End musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert, started the race in 2007, and has agreed to do the same on Sunday, April 18, at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock.
Jason is one of a number of celebrities who have recorded adverts to promote the five-mile race in aid of Oxford Children’s Hospital, and the Oxford-based station started playing them this week.
The father-of-two, who has a home near Wantage, says: “I’m Jason Donovan and I know the children’s hospital does a great job looking after 65,000 sick kids every year.
“I spent a few weeks in the jungle to support the hospital, will you spare an hour to take part in the OX5 Run?
“I’ll be there to start the event — I hope you can join me. See you there.”
Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas, who is also starring in the series of adverts, says: “I’m Kelvin Thomas and at Oxford United we know how important it is to win.
“Everyone who took part last year were winners. It was a great morning and we were able to do our bit to help the 65,000 children that the hospital help every year.”
Others taking part in the ads include comedian Paddy McGuinness, TV presenter Andi Peters, John and Edward Grimes — aka Jedward from the X-Factor — and Dale Harris, whose daughter Mya suffers spina bifida and has received regular treatment at the hospital.
JACK fm’s commercial director Graham Lysaght said: “As soon as we started playing the ads listeners contacted us to say they liked them and that they wanted to take part in the run.”
Rob Allen, of Allen Associates, which is sponsoring the race, said: “Celebrities and people whose children have been treated at the hospital have taken part in the JACK fm campaign.
“It’s a good way of grabbing people’s attention and we hope it will boost the number of people running in the race this year.”
This year organisers are hoping that 1,000 people take part, to raise an estimated £65,000.
Graham Brogden, a spokesman for the children’s hospital, said: “We are very grateful to Jason and everyone else who has taken part in this series of adverts for JACK fm.
“We hope the ads will encourage people to take time out of their Sunday to do something worthwhile for patients at the children’s hospital.”
Last year, 700 people took part in the run to raise a record £57,000 for new toys and equipment.
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