Oxfordshire recruitment agency Allen Associates are celebrating their 14th anniversary as the official sponsors of the OX5 RUN in support of the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

With just 6 weeks to go until the eagerly anticipated charity event, founding directors of Allen Associates, Kate, and Rob Allen, along with their team of recruitment consultants, are dusting off their trainers and looking forward to taking part in the five-mile run being held at Blenheim Palace on Sunday 26th March.

Kate Allen, Managing Director at Allen Associates, said:

“This is a very special community event which brings people together in support of our local children’s hospital. It’s brilliant for building team rapport and camaraderie and enables us to unite around a shared goal and make a real contribution to our community. I hope that more businesses will join us and enter a team this year. There are so many great reasons to get involved.”

The OX5 RUN is a community event that supports the children’s services across the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. To date the five-mile fundraiser has raised well over £1 million helping fund state of the art equipment, facilities and even a dedicated play specialist for children undergoing scans in radiology.

The five-mile fun run is a way of families or individuals thanking the hospital for its care of a loved one or family member. Hannah Dipple from Bicester is just one of many grateful parents who are lacing up their running shoes to show their support.

Her son Sam, who is now six years old, has had countless visits to the Horton General Hospital and John Radcliffe Hospital in his lifetime, but none were more frightening for his family than their visit in November 2018.

Hannah explains: “As Sam suffers with Asthma, we’re really aware of coughs and colds as they can make him severely unwell. The children’s ward at the Horton General Hospital and the Oxford Children’s Hospital has at times felt like a home away from home.

From Sam’s first admission we’ve been well looked after, and we felt it’s time to give back to those who helped look after him and the OX5 RUN felt like the perfect fundraiser.”

Naomi Stewart Hale, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Oxford Hospitals Charity adds:

“We’re thrilled that Allen Associates are joining us for another special event. The OX5 RUN is an event that supports the Oxford Children’s Hospital and impacts thousands of children each year – and this event helps make a real difference to staff and patients day in, day out.

We’re encouraging individuals, families, and local businesses to lace up their trainers and get involved on Sunday 26^th March, everyone who enters and fundraises help us support young patients and their families.

Entry to the OX5 RUN is now open and costs £32 per adult and £17.50 per child aged over 10.

You can enter the run individually or as a team, for more information or sign-up visit www.hospitalcharity.co.uk/ox5run