RUNNERS, joggers and people with disabilities are limbering up for a charity fun run in Oxford’s University Parks to raise cash for good causes.

The Oxford Rotary 2010 Charity Fun Run and Walk for the Less Able is less than two weeks away and organisers are putting the finishing touches to their plans.

The five-kilometre challenge on Saturday, May 8, is for runners, joggers, dog walkers and those who want to take the course at a more leisurely pace.

Last year it raised more than £18,000 for charities including Age Concern, Footsteps, Pegasus Theatre and Oxfordshire Mind.

This year the main beneficiary is the Pathway Workshop, in Dunnock Way, Blackbird Leys, which employs about 20 disadvantaged people and people with disabilities. They are trained and paid to recycle timber and wood waste in a mill workshop to make garden furniture and items like birdboxes.

Almost all of them will be taking part in the run next month.

Managing director Mike Kyle, who has helped organise the race with his colleagues, said the money would be invaluable to the project, especially following the recession, when they had to tighten the purse strings to cope with a £20,000 budget shortfall.

This year he is urging people to enter and sponsor the charity directly to keep the project ticking over.

Mr Kyle said many staff, who suffer from a range of mental and physical difficulties and disabilities, progress to the mainstream job market, and if they do not, their lives, confidence and self-esteem are improved by working at Pathway.

He added: “Everything we have raised goes back to the guys here and the commercial side of the business aims to cover all the overhead costs.

“The guys who come here come through desperation, because they have nowhere else to go. They learn work skills in a supportive environment.”

Mr Kyle said the workshop costs between £400,000 and £450,000 a year to run but the recession had hit trust funds, which contribute about 35 per cent of the annual running costs.

The race begins at 11am in the University Parks and there is a 2.5km race for walkers. Entry costs £10 each.

There will be a display by the RAF Falcons parachute team from RAF Brize Norton at 10.15am, and a barbecue which is free for those taking part in the run and walk.

Rachel Johnson, of the Oxford English Centre, which is helping to organise the event, said: “We very much hope that people will come along and show their support once again for this enjoyable and spectacular event.”

For an entry form or more details, call 01865 714111 or go to oxfordfunrun.org.uk