From left, Daniel Phipps, Charlie Smith, Tom Buswell, of the Jam Factory, and Jessica Robinson

Staff at an Oxford health and fitness club are warming up for this year's OX5 Run.

Jessica Robinson, 25, senior sales consultant at Esporta, in North Oxford, will lead a team of runners around the grounds of Blenheim Palace on Sunday, April 6.

Ms Robinson, from Headington, said staff from the gym, which is in the grounds of St Edward's School playing fields, were planning to run with friends who work at the Jam Factory restaurant, in Park End Street.

She said: "We were looking for a local charity to support and the children's hospital is obviously a very worthy cause.

"Getting ready to run in the race is also a good way of getting fit and I am doing a little bit of road-running as well as work in the gym.

"I am not sure how many people will be in our team but I am trying to get our members to sign up as well as staff.

"I have never been to Blenheim Palace before but I hear it's very beautiful, so I'm really looking forward to the race.

"I'm originally from the United States and when I was a kid I moved around 26 different states, because my dad was a coastguard and he moved jobs to wherever there was a lake or a big river.

"I gather there's a big lake at Blenheim, so I should feel very much at home."

Claire Hooper, a spokesman for the hospital, said she was delighted that Ms Robinson and the team from Esporta were signing up for the race.

She added: "We are extremely grateful to Esporta for supporting the OX5 Run for the second year running.

"Not only are they entering a team themselves, but they're also kindly organising a warm-up session for all the runners on the day."

For the second year running, singer and actor Jason Donovan will start the run.

Last year, more than 800 runners took part and raised £50,000 towards a £15m target. So far, £13.8m has been raised.

A number of corporate teams from across the county are planning to compete for the OX5 Cup, which was won last year by a team from the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.

The trophy is awarded to the team with the lowest aggregate time for its top five finishers.

Chox spokesman Graham Brogden reminded runners that they could register right up until the last minute, or on the day of the race.

It costs £10 to register in advance and £12.50 on the day.

6:15pm Friday 7th March 2008

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