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Thousands take part in annual Town and Gown run

Ethan GudgeSouth of England
News imageMuscular Dystrophy UK/James Busby Hoards of runners pass Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre.Muscular Dystrophy UK/James Busby
News imageMuscular Dystrophy UK/Chris O’Donovan The Blackmore family next to the race start-line. The mother is stood up with her arms around her two daughters - who are both in wheelchairs.Muscular Dystrophy UK/Chris O’Donovan
The annual Town and Gown race first began in 1982 and has raised £3m for Muscular Dystrophy UK over the past 44 years.
Sunday's race was started by the Blackmore family from Wantage, who all live with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Thousands of runners took to the streets of Oxford on Sunday to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Some 7,500 people signed up to the 10km (6.2-mile) Town and Gown race through the city, with nearly 6,000 crossing the finish line, said the organisers.

The annual race began in 1982, with fundraising going to the leading UK charity, which supports children and adults living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions.

Participants this year raised more than £350,000, taking the total raised by the event - and its sister race in Cambridge - over the past 44 years to £3m.

The charity's events manager Jessie Keighley thanked everyone who took part in the race, as well as supporters and volunteers.

She said: "Each year this community event continues to grow and has sold out for the last three years.

"It brings people from Oxfordshire together to support Muscular Dystrophy UK.

"The funds raised will help us to continue funding groundbreaking research and support those living with a muscle wasting and weakening condition."

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