HUNDREDS of runners rose early yesterday to help raise money for sick and injured children cared for by the Oxford Children’s Hospital.

More than 700 people took part in the annual OX5 Run, held in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, west Oxfordshire.

Among them was the Witney MP and Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who was also the official starter for the five-mile run.

Speaking to the crowd before he gave the starter’s orders Mr Cameron joked: “Try and run as slowly as possible to make me look good.”

The winner was Gary Crone, 38, a fireman based at Kidlington, who finished in 28min 28secs.

He said: “I often run over to Blenheim from Kidlington and run around the course and run back, so I’m pretty familiar with the course.

“It’s a nice course and it’s great to get out and do something for charity.”

Mr Crone was a member of Team Chloe, the largest team in this year’s run with 25 people, made up of firefighters and family members running in memory of Chloe Drew.

Chloe was born at the children’s hospital on February 15, but died two days later after suffering complications.

Her father Darren Drew, 26, of Collinwood Road, Risinghurst, said: “That’s why we did this. The children’s hospital, particularly the special care baby unit, were fantastic to us and we wanted to give something back.

“We had already started fundraising, but we have had a really good response from everyone and raised about £5,000.”

Chris Randon and his wife Katrina also turned out to show their support for the hospital that has helped them over the past seven months with their 16-month-old son Alan.

The Randons, who featured in the Oxford Mail two weeks ago in the run up to the OX5, all took to the course — even baby Alan on his dad’s shoulders.

Mr Randon, of Forget-Me-Not Way, in Greater Leys, said: “It would probably have been easier without Alan on my back, but we all wanted to give something back to the hospital.”

Bringing some humour to the day, were a group of friends who completed the run dressed as wrestler Hulk Hogan and one man who did the whole five miles dressed as Santa.

Johann Wilsker, 26, from Witney, was one of the Hulk Hogan runners.

He said: “We all came in at about 48 minutes, which was pretty good considering none of us had trained at all.”

Mr Cameron eventually finished 289th out of 728, completing the course in a respectable 44min 44secs.

Oxford United Football Club chairman Kelvin Thomas took part and completed the course in 55mins 33 secs, finishing in 559th place.

ckearney@oxfordmail.co.uk