THREE doctors at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital are embarking on a little healthy competition for charity.

The researchers from the British Heart Foundation Centre for Research Excellence, based at the hospital, are competing against each other to finish first in a fundraising run next month.

The BHF Blenheim Palace 10k is being held at the palace on Sunday, June 13, to raise money for research, some of which is carried out in the city.

Despite having only been running for less than three months, Dr Paul Robinson said the competition was hotting up with colleagues Dr Gabor Czibik and Dr Henrik Isackson.

He said: “I want to try and beat Dr Isackson who runs 10km in about 45 minutes.

“We’ve all been training hard and are feeling pretty confident.”

Heart and circulatory disease is responsible for one in three deaths in the UK.

The BHF has invested £8.4m in the Oxford University Centre for Research Excellence, but it relies heavily on fundraising events such as the 10k so the vital work can continue.

Dr Robinson said:”We are carrying out exciting research using new scientific approaches to help advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

“The BHF invest nearly £100 a minute into research, and we rely on its funding to carry out life-saving work.

“That’s why we are asking the community to support BHF events, such as the Blenheim Palace 10k, through participation and sponsorship.”

Event organiser Sarah Kirkpatrick said: “We feel privileged to work with the Oxford’s leading cardiologists and cardiac researchers and to help Oxford University develop the next generation of cardiovascular medicine researchers.

“People are always surprised when I tell them that coronary heart disease is a greater threat to their health than cancer, and statistically women are four more times likely to die of a heart problem than breast cancer.

“Raising funds is extremely important for funding research such as the work at the Oxford CRE.

“Staying active is also extremely important for your personal heart health so signing up for a 10km run is a great idea.”

Entry fee for the run is £10 for adults and £5 for children.

Go to the website bhf.org.uk/blenheim, send an email to westevents@bhf.org.uk or call 0800 1693672 for more information about the race.