TWO-THOUSAND people have signed up for the fourth Oxford Half Marathon, with Helen and Douglas House and Oxfam named as its main charities.

Oxfam will be the official lead charity for this year’s race, which will see about 6,000 runners take on a 13.1-mile course through the city on Sunday, October 12.

Organisers confirmed Oxford’s Helen and Douglas House will be this year’s local charity for the race, which starts and finishes at the Kassam Stadium.

Race director Andrew Taylor confirmed 2,000 runners have signed up to take part.

Oxford Mail:

Runners pass through the Mini plant at Cowley in 2012’s race

He has directed the Bath Half Marathon since 2000 and said: “We’ve had 2,000 entries and that is well up on last year’s event. It is going very well.

“We’ve got a couple of new things we will be bringing into the race. We want to get other local charities to sign up to the event.

“We are delighted to have these two charities on board.

“Helen and Douglas House have been part of the event since the beginning. We have loved working with them.

“It is a fantastic cause and it is great to be working with them. We are delighted.”

Organisers have urged runners to get their entries in early to secure their place on the course which runs through the centre of the city.

Charities who are keen to sign up as official partners have until May 30 to register their interest.

Charity director of the Oxford Half Marathon Limited Mel Taylor said: “This is the first step of our ambition to develop the race into one of the largest charity fundraisers in the South East.

“We would welcome applications from more local charities, and discounted entries are being offered to charities within Oxfordshire.”

Charity fundraisers joined race chiefs at the Kassam Stadium to announce their support for this year’s race.

Oxfam Running events manager Erica Dallimore confirmed more than 500 runners would take to the race in Oxfam colours.

She said: “As an Oxford-based charity working globally to overcome poverty, this is a fantastic opportunity to engage the local community in this exciting event and raise vital funds for our work around the world. We look forward to supporting every single runner on their 13.1-mile journey.”

Senior community and events fundraiser for Helen and Douglas House, Poppy Hanbury, said: “It’s wonderful to be part of a local event which involves and benefits the local community.

“The Oxford Half is one of the most popular events in our calendar and runners even run past the hospice en route.”

The hospice, which this year marks its 10th anniversary, provides palliative care to children and young adults in Oxfordshire.

The half marathon saw more than 5,000 take part last year.

And the Oxford Mail is the offical media partner for the event and will bring you all the latest news.

  • Details of how to enter this year’s event are available on the Oxford Mail website, oxfordmail.co.uk.
  • Runners can register at oxfordhalf.co.uk

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