NEARLY £50,000 has been donated to help Oxfordshire residents get fit in the run-up to the Olympics.

Launched at the iconic Iffley Road Running Track on Tuesday – the place where Sir Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile – the project aims to get 1,500 people running for the first time.

Backed by National Lottery funding, Run England Oxfordshire is now on the hunt to find ‘jog leaders’ who can persuade others to get outside and start running.

Julia Hayes set up and now runs the Benson Striders in South Oxfordshire, so knows first-hand how inspiring it can be.

She said: “Setting up the group has been so rewarding.

“Seeing the faces of some of our beginners as they cross the finish line of their first race is a great sight. Many of them couldn’t run for more than five minutes when they joined, so it makes me very proud to see them achieve their goals.”

She added: “We have a lot of fun whilst we are out running which makes getting fitter less painful.”

Ms Hayes was successfully nominated by the Benson Striders to carry the Olympic Torch through Kidlington on July 9.

It is now hoped others from around the county will become ‘jog leaders’ – people who can help support beginner running groups across the county.

Ms Hayes added: “Hopefully through the Run England Oxfordshire initiative we can find more leaders who are prepared to give up their time and help those who wouldn’t normally run, dust off their training shoes.”

The Lottery money which was gained through an application by Oxford Sports Partnership will be spent on training jog leaders in sport qualifications and promoting the new groups.

Newly qualified teacher Justin Lloyd from Oxford said: “Joining a GO Active jogging group last year helped me to get fit and improve my health.”

He added: “Now I feel so great that I have trained as a leader myself and am looking forward to inspiring others, as my leader inspired me, to take it up and enjoy the benefits.”

The project will be run through the GO Active project in partnership with England Athletics, Run England and the Oxfordshire Athletics Network.