OXFORD’S Town and Gown charity run has been declared a huge success after more people than ever before took part.
A total of 3,264 runners finished the 10km race, which has been going for 33 years and was estimated to have raised £150,000 to aid the fight against muscular dystrophy.
The runners began in University Parks at 10am yesterday, before racing through the closed streets of Oxford city centre on a warm, cloudy morning.
Ben Hudson in a tiger suit with colleagues Luke Antieul, left, and Vicki Cottrell
There were also 157 young runners who took part in a junior 3km course, as well as three racers in wheelchairs.
Adam Smith, 41, from High Street, Milton-under-Wychwood, first entered the race four years ago, got bitten by the running bug, and is now a top fundraiser for the charity.
Chris Christou and Cynthia Hale setting off
In the past year alone he raised more than £4,000 and said the cause is “close to his heart” because his mother, brother, cousin and uncle have all had muscular dystrophy.
He said: “Doing the Town and Gown Run is like coming home for me – it’s an amazing atmosphere and a beautiful course around Oxford.”
Runners push off at the start line
Phil Grant, 50, of Lee Close in Charlbury, has been taking part for more than 20 years and turned out again this year, dressed as Wonder Woman.
His 27-year-old son Chris was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged four and before the race Mr Grant said: “If I can raise money and raise awareness, then that’s my job done.”
David Bruce, left, who was first over the line
Christine Hamilton, who helped start the race and is an ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, said: “It’s just a wonderful charity to be involved with. And thanks to research we are now on the verge of a major breakthrough.”
‘Wonder Woman’ Phil Grant with a collecting bucket
Race organiser Toya Champ said the support had been fantastic and added: “Promising potential treatments for muscular dystrophy are being developed and every single person who took part has helped in moving this work forward.”
For the results and more pictures go to http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/pictures/picture_galleries/town_and_gown_2014/
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