RUNNERS have been honoured for their roles in this year’s record-breaking OX5 Run.

The sporting five-mile fundraiser, organised by the Oxford Mail and Allen Associates, supports the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

A record 1,200 runners took part in the race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace, raising an estimated £100,000 in the process.

Award recipients got the chance to meet children who had been treated at the hospital.

Challenge Cup winners were Harry Millard-Green and Harriet Thomas, both 14, who were also patients at the hospital.

Harry suffers from severe asthma and is anaphylactic, while Harriet has congenital melanocytic nevus – a large birthmark.

This year about 30 of their friends and family competed as Team H and the pair collected the Challenge Cup on their behalf.

Harry said: “It always makes me feel really happy that people are doing the OX5 Run, because there are more people like me who need the help.

“So it is nice to see people are raising so much money to support them. It’s a really exciting day and I like doing it myself too.”

Award for first woman across the line went to Megan Roberts, 23, from Abingdon, who finished in exactly 33 minutes.

Men’s winner, for the second year running, was Les Newell, head of the sports centre at Radley College.

Oxford Mail:

Race winner Les Newell alongside Zac Durkin and Finlay White.

Mr Newell, 38, of Little Howe Close, Radley, won in a time of 28 minutes and 10 seconds.

Mr Newell said meeting Zac Durkin, six, and Finlay White, nine, who opened this year’s race, had been inspiring.

Finlay, from Deer Park, Witney, is having chemotherapy for bone cancer and Zac, of Headington, was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. Their parents and friends ran as the 29-strong Team Zac and Finlay.

Mr Newell said: “You could not help but feel something when you realise what they have been through.

“Seeing them makes you realise, it’s not really about winning. If I had ran that race on my own, then no money would have been raised.

“Hopefully next year they will get even more people taking part, because having seen what the money is spent on I can say it really does make a difference.”

The Oxford Vaccine Group won the Community Cup and Siemens Magnet Technology won the Corporate Cup.

Oxford Mail:

Oxford Vaccine Group team members, left to right, Richard Sewell, Daniel O’Connor, Matthew Snape, Jacob Galson and Yama Farooq.

Children’s hospital organiser Sarah Vaccari said she was “thrilled” with the outcome.

She said: “Getting a record number of people to take part this year was just fantastic and we are really hoping we will reach that £100,000 mark.”

Oxford Mail:

Members of winners  Team Siemens, left to right, Nick Dalton with his son, Joshua, 11, who was a patient at the children’s hospital, Frazer Mackay and Thomas Straughan.

The awards were held at the Oxford Children’s Hospital.