The Bidwells Oxford 10k charity race is set to raise £300,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK. 6,600 people took part in the annual “Town and Gown” race on Sunday 11th May. The race sold out for the second consecutive year, reaching the largest number of participants in the event’s history.
Town and Gown Series Events Officer told Cherwell that around a third of the registrants self-identified as “Gown”, which comprised both University of Oxford students and staff.
Several local schools, such as Summer Fields School, also took part in the junior 3k race. Ian Barrett, Assistant Head of PE at Summer Fields said the event “is a real highlight in [their] school calendar.” This year 180 pupils from the school entered the 3k race.
Teams completing the race included a group of scientists from Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, who raised over £1,200. Also of note was an Oxfordshire fire crew, who took part in the race dressed in full fire-fighting PPE and carrying a 50 kg casualty mannequin, raised over £1,100 for Muscular Dystrophy UK and The Fire Fighters Charity.
Jessie Keighley, Events Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “This is a true community event, and we’re delighted that it continues to grow, selling out in advance for a second year running.” The money raised will be used to “continue funding groundbreaking research and supporting those living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions.”
Nick Pettit, Senior Partner at Bidwells said that partnering with Muscular Dystrophy UK to run the race allows the firm “to champion the charity and its cause, while also giving back to the local communities that are central to [their] work.”
Diligencia, Penningtons Manches Cooper, Oxford United Football Club, and David Lloyds Clubs supported the “Town and Gown” race alongside Bidwells.
Muscular Dystrophy UK is a charity supporting 110,000 people in the UK with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions. The race in support of the charity was established in 1982 inspired by Daniel Cleaver, a local boy with muscular dystrophy, who died at the age of 12.
