What were you doing early on the morning of Sunday 13^th October? Leaving for work? Walking the dog? Enjoying a cuppa? Or heading to a lively warm-up session in Oxford City Centre, ahead of the 9:30am start for this year’s Motiv Sports Oxford Half Marathon?

This is how 13,000 people chose to start this sunny, but cold, autumnal day and our 30-strong team of amazing Oxford Health Charity Champions were among them!

 

Despite a long, chilly wait for those placed furthest back in the starting pens, each of our runners was eager to cross the start line and step out onto the 13.1-mile route that would take them through the historic streets of Oxford and past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Sites such as the Radcliffe Camera, Royal Observatory, Bodleian Library, Bridge of Sighs, Sheldonian Theatre and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

   

"It will be a really huge challenge for me to run this distance as I’ve never done anything like this before (and I’m not really a runner!) so crossing the finish line will be such an achievement!"

Spurred on by the live music stations and the thousands of cheering supporters lining the route, each member of our Oxford Health Charity team – whether a seasoned competitor or running a half marathon for the first time – ran an amazing race, with many achieving personal best times and 13 of our runners powering home in under two hours!

“We really enjoyed the race and the atmosphere was amazing. Thank you all for your amazing organisation for the event.” 

Of course, it wasn’t just the cheering crowds and upbeat tunes along with the promise of a finisher’s T shirt and medal that carried our Oxford Half Heroes around the course. As for every participant, they each had their own personal motivations for running this year’s race – here are just a few:

Through their outstanding achievements our team have, to date, raised an astounding combined total of almost £10,000 for their chosen Oxford Health Charity appeals and funds, enabling us to enhance the experiences of many of our Trust service users and staff through charity-funded projects.

“It was the best day ever!!!!! SO glad we have raised this amount.”

"Participating in the marathon was a truly refreshing experience…. By being a part of this, I had the opportunity to go and see many beautiful neighbourhoods around Oxford that I hadn’t had the chance to visit before. Raising money for our NHS charity felt like I was doing something really good, and I hope I’ve helped with their incredible work!"

If you haven’t yet had chance to support and celebrate the achievements of your friends and colleagues, please consider making a donation via our charity Oxford Half team fundraising page: Oxford Half 2024 for Oxford Health

A HUGE, heartfelt THANK YOU to our Oxford Half team of 2024. Both your physical and fundraising efforts and achievements have been truly amazing!

And so, to 2025...

Several of our 2024 team members are already thinking ahead to next year’s race – being held on Sunday 12th October. Want to join them and help raise some much-needed funds to support services across your local NHS community and mental health trust?

To register your interest for the Oxford Half 2025, please complete our brief form: OH4OH 2025 Form. 

If you would like more information about the event, please contact the charity team at: [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming you to the team! 😊