CHAUFFEUR Nathan Thomas is looking forward to his first mission as 007 – raising money for Oxford Children’s Hospital.

Mr Thomas, from Enslow, near Kidlington, was delighted to be given James Bond’s famous codename as his running number, after signing up for this year’s OX5 Run on Sunday, March 25.

The father-of-two runs Hilltop Chauffeurs and drives passengers in his luxury E-Class Mercedes.

Now he is looking forward to driving on to the finishing line in the five-mile run around Blenheim Palace.

This year’s is the 10th anniversary race, and fund-raisers are hoping to pull in a total of £100,000 to buy equipment and toys that can’t be funded by the NHS.

Mr Thomas, 36, said: “My middle name is James, so we found it a bit of a giggle that I will be 007 on the day.

“I’m thinking about wearing my tuxedo to get into the spirit. I drive nice cars for work – another Bond connection.

“Maybe I should even think about taking a martini around with me while I do the race, but if I do, it will definitely be shaken not stirred.”

Mr Thomas’s wife Kay, 34, his sister Amanda Elliott, 39 and family friend Kelly Warman, 33, are also entering as part of the Hilltop Chauffeurs team.

Mr and Mrs Thomas were inspired to take part after their elder daughter Molly, who celebrates her third birthday a week before the race, stopped breathing when she was 11 days old. She was diagnosed with urticaria, swelling of the deeper layers of the skin which can cause severe rashes.

Mr Thomas, 36, said: “The last time Molly went to the children’s hospital was last year but she has ongoing issues and still sees a consultant there.

“She suffers with seizures known as febrile convulsions, which come on if her body temperature goes over a certain level. She had one not long before Christmas.”

The couple’s younger daughter, eight-month-old Daisy, also needed hospital treatment last year when a bout of sickness left her dehydrated.

Mrs Thomas, a sales director for an office supplies company, said: “Nathan took part in the last OX5 Run but I was pregnant with Daisy and couldn’t.

“This year, I am raring to go. I don’t run and wouldn’t say I am particularly fit, but I will do my best. The hospital has done a lot for our children, so we just want to give something back.

“None of us should take it for granted our children won’t need hospital at some point.”

The Hilltop Chauffeurs team raised around £500 last year but hopes to beat that.

Hospital spokesman Penny Hambridge said: “It’s fantastic to see how keen Nathan, Kay and the rest of the team are.

“Now that Nathan has been given the number 007, it sounds like he’s a man with a mission.”