THERE’S still time to get your running shoes on and join hundreds of others to take part in this year’s OX5 Run.

Places are still available to take part in tomorrow’s five-mile run at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, to raise money for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Online entries have closed, but people can sign up on the day at 8.30am, for the ninth annual run.

George Martini will get runners warmed up with a dance exercise zumba session before celebrity chef Raymond Blanc starts the race at 10.30am.

Last year’s event raised £57,000 and the cash was used to buy vital equipment including a cooling system to help prevent children at risk of cerebral palsy from developing the disease.

So far more than 900 runners have signed up.

Spokesman Penny Hambridge said: “Come along on the day, it’s a great fun run around the lovely grounds of Blenheim Palace.

“The weather forecast is good, so come and join us, have some fun and help us raise money to help our children.”

The Oxford Mail and recruitment company Allen Associates, of Oxford, is sponsoring the event.

One of the runners will be Stacey Godfrey, who baby daughter Lilia was diagnosed with a rare metabolic condition, and cared for at the hospital.

The 29-year-old, from Didcot, said: “The hospital helps thousands of children and their parents, and we are fortunate to have it quite close to home.

“I’ve never run this distance before so it’s a real challenge.”

Nathan and Kay Thomas and Kevin and Kelly Warman said they were inspired to take on the challenge after seeing first-hand how staff helped their sick and injured children.

The Thomas’ daughter, Molly, stopped breathing aged 11 days and was diagnosed with urticaria and angioedema, swelling of the deeper layers of the skin which causes severe rashes.

The two-year-old now has regular check-ups at the hospital’s allergy clinic.

The couple, of Enslow, near Kidlington, hope to raise £500.

Mrs Thomas, 33, said: “We all just want to show our thanks and appreciation to all the hospital staff who have helped us.”

They will run in the Hilltop Chauffeurs group, named after Mr Thomas’s Oxford vehicle firm, along with friends including the Warmans’, of Hampden Close, Bicester.

Both their boys, Rhys, six, and Jacob, two, have been cared for at the hospital, on the John Radcliffe Hospital site. Rhys needed fingernail surgery after his hand was bitten by a dog in 2009.

His brother was in for three-and-a-half weeks aged two months for a lump on the head, which was treated with antibiotics.

OXFORD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

The Oxford Mail started the annual fun run nine years ago as part of a countywide fundraising campaign to help pay for the new children’s centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The Oxford Children’s Hospital was built in 2006 after more than £14m was raised.

Children receive treatment for conditions including heart disease, chest problems, childhood cancer, neurological disorders and general and specialist surgery.

Accommodation is also available for parents to stay overnight, either next to their child’s bed or in a dedicated suite.

Each year, money raised from OX5 Run is used to buy new medical equipment and upgrade facilities.