THE FAMILY of a five-year-old boy who is now walking after four months in a wheelchair said they will be forever grateful to Oxford Children's Hospital.

William Gent, who was fitted with a head brace during treatment to straighten his spine, stole the show at the Oxford Mail's annual OX5 Run awards ceremony as he ran around and jumped on the sofas.

The Bampton schoolboy's parents and friends raised more than £5,500 through the event - the most of any team that took part in April's Blenheim Palace run.

His mum Katy Gent, 37, said she and her husband Daniel thanked everyone involved in getting William back on his feet.

The primary school teacher said: "It was a long stay in the hospital but the staff have been incredible and William is walking now and it's amazing to see.

"He had to have two operations in the end but he's back at Bampton Primary School and doing really well and we are all just so happy.

"I'm so pleased we were able to raise so much money and I hope it goes some way to showing just how grateful we are to the hospital.

She added: "It's been a really tough journey and was very scary for us as parents as well but the hospital has been amazing.!

William was born with congenital kypho-scoliosis, a condition which means his spine did not form properly in the womb and does not grow straight.

The five-year-old, who at one point asked for his sixth birthday party to be hosted on the ward, spent more than four months at Oxford Children's Hospital earlier this year before two undergoing surgery.

It is hoped the treatment will prevent damage to his lungs and heart from the curve of his spine as he grows.

His mum hoped his long stint in hospital and successful outcome would stave off treatment for another two to three years.

The youngster sat through the ceremony on Wednesday despite being desperate to visit Tom's Ward once again to see the staff and all his friends.

He said: "I liked being at the hospital, with two nurses we became the triple tricksters and went around playing pranks.

"When I left they gave me a hot wheels car which did loads of stunts - I like coming back to see them all."

At the ceremony the hospital announced that this year's race, which saw 1,012 people taking part, had raised £110,000 and set its sights on breaking the £1m barrier next year.

William presented the Community Cup - alongside race starter Lucas Cox - to Team H.

Harry Millard-Green and Harriet Thomas, both 16 and from Yarnton, have been patients at the hospital since birth and more than 30 of their friends and family completed the race again this year.

Harry suffers from severe asthma and is anaphylactic, while Harriet, who has a rare skin condition, has had around 30 operations to remove birthmarks.

Harry, who wants to become a chef, said: "I feel very supported at the hospital, as do my family and I feel safe here.

"The staff have always been great to me and it's amazing place, it's wonderful to see so many people run the OX5 each year to make it even better."

Harriet's mum Paula Thomas said: "The hospital has been wonderful and we have been running the OX5 for years so they can keep up their good work.

"We don't live far away and it's great to have such an amazing facility for parents and their children so close by."

Sarah Vaccari, from Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds, said: "It was wonderful to be able to celebrate the success of this year’s OX5 Run with those who helped make the event happen, the fastest teams and a number of the families who took part. We were particularly touched to have young William Gent and his family with us – the last time we saw William he was still in a wheelchair and fitted with a head brace so to see him up and about and looking so well was really special."