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A MUM whose son Rocky spent a week in intensive care before fighting back against bronchiolitis has signed up for the Oxford Mail's Ox5 run to give something back.

Clare Mowforth, from Wantage, brought a healthy Rocky home in October, only to be rushed back to the hospital two weeks later when the newborn baby stopped breathing.

Rocky spent a week in intensive care and the high dependency unit at the children's hospital.

Mrs Mowforth, 34, said: "He was having problems with his breathing and the hospital told us to call them if it got worse.

"Then one night he just stopped breathing. We called 999 and we were blue-lighted straight to the children's A&E unit. But we were always sure Rocky was in the best possible hands with the staff at the hospital."

She added: "They were really thorough with explaining everything and keeping us informed and I just wanted to give something back by signing up."

The mother-of-two was able to stay up at the hospital in Ronald McDonald House throughout her son's time there.

She also praised the staff at the hospital for keeping an eye on her three-year-old son Thomas.

Mrs Mowforth said: "I know we are not that far away in Wantage but it was invaluable to have a bed at Ronald McDonald.

"My husband Neil works and my three-year-old was at pre-school – I had a C-section with the birth so I couldn't drive for six weeks either so the bed was crucial."

Husband Neil will be on the sidelines on March 26 with the two boys supporting mum taking on the five-mile run around the grounds of Blenheim Palace, which raises funds for the children's hospital.

The former triathlete hoped to have no problems with the course, despite being post-natal – and urged others to sign up.

She said: "I'm doing it in a team called The Wantage Ladies, there's five of us and we want to raise as much as possible for the hospital.

"Another of our team recently used the hospital and it's such a colourful and joyful place. I was even struck by the fact the toys and games are brand new."

Money from the OX5 Run will go towards more toys and games and will also feed into the hospital's tenth anniversary appeal for more outdoor play areas and a new 62-bedroom Ronald McDonald House facility.

The OX5 Run is being sponsored by recruitment firm Allen Associates for the ninth year.

Last year's event saw a record-breaking £115,000 raised, which has already been spent on a sensory room to educate and entertain children in its high dependency unit, equipment to stabilise premature babies and a specialist nurse for children with severe asthma.

People wanting to take part can do so by signing up online by clicking here