SOME say politics is all about hot air but one Oxford councillor hopes he won’t be doing too much huffing and puffing next month.

City and county Labour councillor Mark Lygo will be taking part in the Oxford Half Marathon with two friends for Helen and Douglas House.

The event on Sunday, October 12, will see 6,700 competitors run around the city for the East Oxford hospice.

Mr Lygo, of Valentia Road, said: “Helen and Douglas House is a great cause and running is a great way of keeping fit.”

Our top stories

Mr Lygo represents Marston and Northway on Oxfordshire County Council and Churchill on Oxford City Council.

He said: “I’ve visited the hospice in the past and we all appreciate what the staff and volunteers do there.

“That’s why we feel it is important that we contribute. In a way we are doing the easy bit, just putting in the runs.”

He will be running with friends James Taylor and Darryl Cribben, who he attended Headington’s Cheney School with.

Builder Mr Taylor, 41, of Sandhills, said: “We did it last year for the same charity and I think it makes a big difference.

“I’ve been to visit the hospice and I’ve got three children myself.

“I’ve done quite a few half-marathons and I am looking forward to it.”

Sandhills resident Mr Cribben, a scout at Oxford United, said: “Helen and Douglas House is a charity that is close to the club and it is close to Oxford. I ‘ve been down there a couple of times and it puts everything in perspective.”

Mr Lygo and Mr Taylor have been training by going for runs around Shotover Hill every week.

Places sold out this month for the first time in the half marathon’s four-year history, including 6,000 general entries and 700 for charity fundraisers.

It will start and finish at the Kassam Stadium and the route passes through the city centre.

For the first time it will also include part of the Roger Bannister Running Track in Iffley Road where Sir Roger broke the four-minute mile barrier in 1954.

Hospice fundraiser Annaliese Taylor said: “It’s really fantastic they are running for us. They seem really keen. They are hoping to raise £1,500 which will pay for a nurse for a week and a half.

“We’ve got about 45 people running for us at the moment and we are still getting a lot of interest.”

Last year’s event raised £20,000 for the Magdalen Road hospice, she said.

Helen and Douglas House was opened in 1982 as the world’s first children’s hospice by Sister Frances Dominica.

It provides respite, end of life and bereavement care for children, young adults and their families.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.