Cosy costumes on display at Oxford Half Marathon to raise money for children's hospice
Helen & Douglas House runners are hoping to highlight the need for more hospice beds
Four staff members at an Oxford children's hospice are swapping their scrubs for duvets today as they run 13.1 miles dressed as beds.
Doctors and nurses from Helen & Douglas House will be taking part in the Oxford Half Marathon, trying to raise £200,000 to help cover the cost of a hospice bed for a year.
Their outfits, made by the charity's craft volunteers, come with pillows, teddy bears, nightcaps and duvet-style covers.
The charity is the headline charity partner for this year's event, with more than 300 runners taking part to support seriously ill children and their families.
Pressures on hospice care
The challenge comes as Helen & Douglas House, as well as other hospices across the county, see a rise in demand for their services.
Dr Emily Harrop, who is running the half marathon, said: "We need hospice beds nationally. We don't have enough."
The £200,000 fundraising target for the event could hostup to 104 stays for children, providing more than 300 nights of care for families facing some of the most challenging circumstances.
Dr Harrop explained that the cost of a hospice bed goes far beyond the physical bed itself.
"It's the cost of having a workforce that is skilled and specially trained to care for those children, and enough of them to open all our beds," she said.
Helen & Douglas House also supports families who choose to care for their children outside of the hospice.
"A bed is also a metaphor because a child may be in their own bed and dying at home, and they would still need that bed to be staffed by our specialist staff," she added.
A personal challenge
As well as raising money for the charity, today's half marathon marks a significant personal milestone for Dr Harrop.
Despite being an experienced runner who has previously completed marathons and half marathons for Helen & Douglas House, she underwent major surgery almost a year ago.
"I had to literally learn to walk again with Nordic poles," she said.
"This year I won't be going for a time. It's about getting the message out there and completing the half marathon. My aim is just to jog it, not walk it."
The care team is hoping their eye-catching costumes will encourage people along the route today to support the charity and raise awareness of the importance of children's hospice care.