A caring father is lacing up his running shoes and taking part in the OX5 Run next Sunday for the NINTH time, to thank the Oxford Children’s Hospital for saving his daughter's life nearly a decade ago.

Phil Rose, from Abingdon, first entered in 2013 after he received the shattering news that his two-year-old had cancer when doctors found a stomach tumour.

Maizie, now 11, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma – a rare form of childhood cancer that affects just over 100 children a year in the UK. 

She underwent treatment on Kamran’s Ward at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, where Mr Rose praised the "incredible" care and compassion that the family received.

He said: “Nearly a decade on, we still remember the first time we walked into the hospital and on to the ward, we felt like we were in safe hands and the care we received – and still continue to receive - is nothing but incredible.

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"I’ve always said that as long as I am alive, I’ll get involved and support the hospital that saved my daughter’s life, and nearly a decade later I’m still sticking to that promise.” 

Team Maizie, which is made up of family and friends, has entered the run for the past nine years, raising thousands.

This year Mr Rose is determined to raise even more for the hospital as Maizie will require further treatment and monitoring in years to come.

The five-mile fun run has helped fund support towards parental accommodation, state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and even a play specialist to help calm and distract children having important scans.

Mr Rose adds: “We’ve seen the first-hand difference that the run makes to the hospital, and so if you are a returning runner, walker, jogger or first-time runner, I urge you to get involved as you never know when you or a loved one might need it."

The OX5 RUN, sponsored by Oxfordshire recruitment agency Allen Associates, started in 2002 and has raised more than £1 million to provide extra support for local children in hospital.

It is back at Blenheim Palace on Sunday March 20, after two years of virtual events due to the pandemic.

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Entry costs £35 per adult and £17.50 per child.

Joe Baker, from Oxford Hospitals Charity adds: “We’re delighted that Phil is back with Team Maizie for the ninth year. The OX5 RUN is an event that has the community placed at the centre of its heart, and we’d like to encourage anyone who has had contact with our hospitals or knows someone who has to get involved."

For more information or to sign up go to www.hospitalcharity.co.uk/ox5run