A TEAM of public relations staff will be tackling 10km of gruelling obstacles in this year's Rough Runner event to raise money for poorly children.

Staff from PR agency CubanEight, based in Upper Heyford near Bicester, will take on the obstacle course through Chipping Norton to launch a year's worth of fundraising for Oxford Children's Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

It comes after the firm announced earlier this month that it had chosen the children's hospital charity as its charity of the year.

CubanEight founder and managing director Sian Gaskell said: "This is the first time we have officially selected a charity of the year at CubanEight.

"We have done lots for different charities in the past, but this year the team wanted to commit to giving dedicated support year-round.

"We are busy training for Rough Runner at the moment, our first charitable event of the year, and we’re all really looking forward to it."

The 10km Rough Runner will see fundraisers take to the Oxfordshire countryside on Sunday to tackle obstacles such as zip lines, spider climbs and a Gladiator-style travelator.

Ms Gaskell said: "We have visited the Children’s Hospital and seen the amazing work that the hospital charity is able to do with donations.

"Some of our team have had personal experiences with the hospital, having people close to them that have benefited from its services – it’s such a vital place for so many people.

"We are now more motivated than ever to raise as much money as we can."

The money raised will go towards the Oxford Children's Hospital 10th anniversary appeal, aiming to raise £2m to build a new, purpose built, 62-bedroom Ronald McDonald house for parents to stay close to their children whilst they are hospital.

The campaign also hopes to be able to raise enough funds to create more play areas for children and help provide specialist medical equipment.

Joe Baker, from Oxford Children's Hospital Charitable Funds, said: "We are thrilled that CubanEight has selected the Oxford Children’s Hospital as its charity of the year.

"Support from local businesses is so important and makes such a difference for our young patients and their families.

"We really enjoyed showing the team around the hospital so they could meet some of our inspirational youngsters and hospital staff, and we hope this will spur them on when they take part in their challenge."

For the team's fundraising page see justgiving.com/fundraising/CubanEight