SPORT RELIEF: Walking miles to make a difference (From thisisoxfordshire)

SPORT RELIEF: Walking miles to make a difference

6:38pm Sunday 21st March 2010 in

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PEOPLE of all ages donned trainers to take part in Sport Relief Mile runs this weekend.

Events were staged in all corners of the county to raise money for the charity, which helps vulnerable people in Britain and around the world to improve their lives.

The events followed a star-studded live telethon on Friday night, which raised more than £29m.

In Didcot, runners and walkers ran around the town on one-mile, three-mile and six-mile routes after setting off from Willowbrook Leisure Centre.

Among them was Graham Chapman, who was left temporarily paralysed by a rare medical condition. He tackled a mile-long walk using a walking stick.

He walked the route with his wife Dorothy and the town’s mayor Margaret Turner, completing the course around the Ladygrove estate in half an hour.

The 64-year-old, from Cholsey, developed Guillain-Barre syndrome in June 2008, and has spent the past two years rebuilding his strength and movement.

Mr Chapman said: “It was good, it was a lovely morning.

“I’m pleased I did it, because I’ve not walked a mile outside, only in the gym. It wasn’t that easy. I need to do some work on my legs.”

At Cutteslowe & Sunnymead Park, in North Oxford, about 400 people walked, jogged and ran the course, while spectators were entertained by the Sol Samba band.

Sport Relief miles also took place in Thame, at the Heythrop Park Hotel near Enstone, at Ardington near Wantage and in Bloxham, near Banbury.

On Friday, supermarket worker Grace Timms had all her hair shaved off for the cause by colleague Shelley Withers at Sainsbury’s, in Chipping Norton.

The 22-year-old said: “I had my hair shaved off a few years ago for Cancer Research and I knew how much of an impact it had. My colleague spent all week trying to persuade me not to do it.

“Everyone keeps stroking my head. They say I look like Sinead O’Connor.”

Also doing their bit on Friday were staff and greyhounds at Oxford Stadium, in Cowley, who lapped the track to complete their fundraising mile.

eallen@oxfordmail.co.uk