Oxford 10k: Charity veterans to start city’s race

This year’s edition of a charity race through Oxford will be started by a couple who have been involved since it started 42 years ago.

Ian and Mavis Hale, from near Witney, Oxfordshire, will begin the Bidwells Oxford 10k and junior 3k, which 5,600 people are set to take part in.

The race raises funds for the Muscular Dystrophy UK, with another held in Cambridge.

They have raised more than £2m for the charity.

The first 10k was held at Blenheim Palace in 1982 and set up by Mike Cleaver, whose son Daniel was living with muscular dystrophy.

Mr Hale was a colleague of Mr Cleaver, who stood down from the race’s committee after Daniel died in 1990.

“It was a popular run, and we knew it was raising a lot of money for a worthwhile cause, so we didn’t want it to stop,” Mr Hale said.

“We used to all stay up late on the day of the race so that we could get everyone’s race times to the Oxford Mail by 23:00 to be published in the paper the next day.

“Obviously, everything is done by computer now with chip timing.”

The race will take no entries on Sunday because it is sold out for the first time in its history.

“A lot has changed over the last four decades, but the friendly, community atmosphere at the run has stayed the same,” Mr Hale said.

“We still feel that real connection to Mike, Daniel and others who are living with muscular dystrophy and know that it’s making a difference.”

Jessie Keighley, Muscular Dystrophy UK’s events project manager, said she was “honoured” Mr and Mrs Hale had agreed to be race starters.