FOR more than a year, Phil Rose was a regular visitor to Oxford Children’s Hospital as his daughter Maizie battled a rare cancer.

Now the three-year-old is in remission and the school minibus driver from Abingdon is rallying a team to run the Oxford Mail OX5 Run to raise funds for the hospital.

Maizie Rose was taken to hospital in May last year and diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer that affects cells in the chest and stomach.

The three-year-old now returns to Kamran’s Ward at the hospital in Headington for scans every three months.

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Mr Rose, 36, took part in the five-mile run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock this year and has already signed up for next year’s five-mile run on Sunday, March 29.

He said: “The hospital from day one were just fantastic with Maizie and with us.

“They do an incredible job of looking after children and their families who are so ill.

“For us the ward is in our hearts and it’s a chance to give something back – you can say thank you until you’re blue in the face but this will make a difference.”

The 36-year-old wants to assemble a team this year.

He added: “I wish I’d done the race before, but until you’ve been in the situation you don’t even think of doing it. Even if you just raise £20 that can buy a puzzle or a game for a child who’s having a really rough time or even some important equipment, that’s why I want to get a team together this year and get as many people signed up as possible.”

After 15 months of chemotherapy, surgery and an estimated 50 blood transfusions, in August this year Maizie’s cancer went into remission.

“It was a really tough time for all of us but not once did we doubt anything they were doing, the nurses were out of this world. They deal with these children, including Maizie, who are seriously ill and they’ve always got a smile on their face, which means we had one as well.

“We know that no matter what we’ve been through – and it’s been an awful journey – there’s always someone worse off and we want to get as many people signed up as possible to continue to help.”

Oxford Children’s Hospital spokeswoman Sarah Vaccari said: “We hope when people hear about Maizie’s amazing courage it will inspire them to sign up for the OX5 Run.

“This event makes such a difference to our young patients, helping provide the best possible medical equipment in the most comfortable environment.

“It’s just five miles, so please do support your local children’s hospital.”

The event is being sponsored by Oxford recruitment firm Allen Associates for the seventh year in a row.

Last year’s race raised a record-breaking £114,000.

Runners can join Mr Rose by signing up at hospital charity.co.uk/OX5Run

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