A RECORD-breaking total of £87,000 has now been raised for the Oxford Children’s Hospital from this year’s OX5 charity run.

By April, £70,000 had been handed over, with an extra £17,000 added to the total this week.

The run for the Headington hospital took place in the grounds of Blenheim Palace on March 10.

Winner of the five-miler – Les Newell, from Radley – finished the race in 28 minutes and 14 seconds.

He was presented with his trophy on Wednesday at the hospital.

The head of Radley College’s Sports Centre said: “It was great to win.

“I have run it before and come third but I hadn’t won. I have friends whose children have been helped by the hospital so I am hoping to get a team together to do it again next year.”

Mr Newell, 37, said he knew of the good work the Children’s Hospital did because the daughter of a friend has been treated there her whole life.

Dale Harris’s 10-year-old daughter Mya has had more than 20 operations at the hospital since she was born there with spina bifida.

Exactly 959 runners crossed the finish line, breaking last year’s fundraising total of £60,000 by £27,000.

The money from the run – organised by the Oxford Mail and sponsored by Oxford-based recruitment firm Allen Associates – helps pay for equipment to treat Oxfordshire’s sick children.

Staff will now be looking at what equipment and facilities are needed for patients, and their parents and relatives.

Children’s Hospital spokeswoman Sarah Vaccari said: “This smashes all previous records for the OX5 Run. We are absolutely thrilled that the people of Oxfordshire and beyond have shown such fantastic support for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

“We will be looking at the very best way to spend this great sum in the coming months to benefit as many children as possible.

“We would like to thank everyone who took part and are already looking forward to planning next year’s run.”

Last year the money helped to pay for a new eye scanner for babies and children, a pneumoscan machine to measure lung function in children more easily, a portable ventilator to transport sick children between intensive care, theatres and the X-ray department.

A more comfortable waiting area for parents whose children are being treated in the high-dependency unit was also funded by the money.