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Buildbase staff hand over the cheque to Chox

Staff from builders' merchants Buildbase took part in the OX5 Run to help raise an impressive £63,415 for the Oxford Children's Hospital.

Now, runners around the county are being urged to follow in their footsteps by taking part in the OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace, on Sunday, June 1.

The run in Woodstock was due to take place on April 6, but the five-mile race around the grounds of the palace was postponed due to a heavy snowfall.

On Tuesday, at the Kassam Stadium, the Oxford United sponsors Buildbase handed over a cheque for £63,415 to fundraisers from the children's hospital.

Regional director David Robertson was responsible for driving the firm's fundraising campaign, which included staff taking part in the OX5 Run. Buildbase exceeded its target amount of £55,000.

Buildbase recently signed a new two-year deal to sponsor the U's and the cheque was handed over at United's final home game of the season against Rushden & Diamonds.

Mr Robertson said: "When I visited the hospital site with some of my colleagues we couldn't help but be moved by the project.

"Knowing that the hospital will help children from a wide catchment area means that it will benefit many families around the country.

"A lot of staff have young families and will understand why a children's hospital deserves our help."

Buildbase staff at the Oxford branch in Watlington Road and at the company's head offices on the Oxford Business Park helped to raise funds.

Activities included the OX5 Run, golf days, a 24-hour billiards contest, a sky-dive, fun runs, sponsored walks and car boot sales.

Mr Robertson added: "I am very grateful to everyone who got involved and did their bit. We can all be very proud of what we've achieved."

More than £6,000 was raised for Chox at a special evening organised by Buildbase and the Aziz restaurant in Cowley Road, and Buildbase customers also contributed to the total.

Seventeen staff also skydived from 12,000ft at Weston-on-the-Green to raise £5,000, and a walk organised by staff member Linda Bone raised £1,300.

Graham Brogden, a spokesman for Chox, urged others to follow in the footsteps of Buildbase staff by signing up for this year's OX5 Run.

Runners can also turn up on the day, pay £12.50 and enter the race. So far, about 600 runners have signed up for the race.

He added: "Such support makes a huge difference to the hospital and, most importantly, to the 65,000 children and their families from across the region that benefit from this unique facility every year."

*For further information about the OX5 Run, call 01865 743444 or see oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/ox5run to download an entry form.

4:03pm Friday 25th April 2008

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