RUNNERS at next month’s Town and Gown charity run have been asked to dress to impress.

Hundreds of people are set to pound the streets of Oxford on Sunday, May 11 to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

And the charity is asking runners to put their thinking caps on and come up with an eye-catching outfit for the big day, with many expected to don the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s signature colour – bright orange.

Muscular Dystrophy Campaign challenge events manager Toya Champ said: “We ask our runners to don the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s colour in recognition of all those in Oxfordshire who are living with muscle-wasting conditions.

“Last year participants embraced the Town and Gown Crown competition – they set the bar pretty high, so if you are hoping to capture the crown from last year’s winners, we need to see something special.

“Whether you are running solo or with friends and family, a dash of orange and a little bit of creative thinking can go a long way.”

It is hoped runners will raise £150,000 to tackle rare muscle-wasting conditions.

The best-dressed runner will win the Town and Gown Crown and have their picture published in the Oxford Mail.

Competitors only need to take a picture of themselves or their team sporting their orange outfits on the day of the race, and email it to the Town and Gown team by 5pm on May 12, with a sentence on why they should win.

There are individual and group categories for junior and senior runners.

During its 33-year history, the Oxford Town and Gown 10k has raised close to £1.5m for the charity, which funds research into treatments for muscle-wasting conditions and supports families affected by them.

Virgin Active’s Oxfordshire Health and Racquet Club team plan to do their bit to help out runners on the day, offering a pre-race warm-up at the start.

More than 70,000 children and adults in the UK have muscular dystrophy or a related neuromuscular condition. A further 350,000 people are affected indirectly as family, friends or carers.

  • Entries should be sent to townandgown@muscular-dystrophy.org, along with the names and ages of each competitor in the order shown in your picture, and a sentence on how your/your team’s outfits should win the Town and Gown Crown. Junior entries should include a phone contact number for a parent or guardian.