A RACE through Oxford has raised more than £100,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Funds are still coming in from the 3,000 runners who took part in this year’s Oxford Mail-backed Town and Gown 10km race in May.

But organisers of the 31st annual event said “well over £100,000” had now been raised for the cause.

And the money is already beginning to be spent locally in Oxfordshire, with a team led by Prof Kaye Davies at Oxford University to find a potential treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy receiving a £50,000 grant towards its work following the event.

The charity’s head of event Emma Jones-Parry said: “We are delighted with the success of this year’s event, and cannot thank our runners enough for helping us to soar over the £100,000 mark. “ Among those pounding the streets with a personal reason to do so were twin sisters Kate Welsby, who was six months pregnant at the time of the race, and Ellen Richards, who has the muscle weakening condition myasthenia gravis.

Miss Welsby, from Botley, raised nearly £1,150 with her efforts.

She said: “Ellen and I have a particular motivation for running the race. My sister has been battling myasthenia gravis for several years, and this was a way for her to prove to herself that she is now well enough to run 10k.

Next year’s race is on Sunday, May 12, and runners can express interest by emailing townandgown10k @muscular-dystrophy.org