Run Oxfordshire

It was with stinging feet, stiff legs, a painful pelvis, but a happy and full heart that on Sunday 25th September I completed my “Run Oxfordshire” challenge to run nine marathons in nine days. I did this to raise funds for, and awareness of, OAB – a charity which means so much to me and, I’m sure, to many of you reading or listening to this newsletter.

It was a great adventure. It began in Banbury on Saturday 17th when I was waved off by the Town Mayor to set off on my first marathon at around 10am. Over the next few days, I ran a spiral around the county, through more than one hundred towns, villages and hamlets, in the rough order of Chipping Norton, Faringdon, Didcot, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Bicester, Witney, Abingdon and Oxford.

I was blown away by the support that I received during the challenge. Friends cycled with me to carry my kit; others hosted me on my overnight stays; local masseurs gave their services to me for free to help alleviate the pain in my legs…I was even helped by a lady in Towersey who let me use her toilet when I was caught short running through the town!

The challenge ended with the new Oxford Half Marathon. Among the 2,000 other runners were nine wonderful people who ran as OAB ambassadors, including OAB’s new Fundraiser Laura Howdill. A big “thank you” therefore to Brendan, Laura G, Sarah, Tim, Tom H, Tom P, Ryan and Steve. I’d also like to thank Kali and Sam, who entered the Half Marathon but were sadly unable to run due to injury. It was a fantastic feeling to run with them, and together they all raised over £1,000 for the cause!

I’m delighted to report that, at the time of writing, the Run Oxfordshire challenge has raised well over £3,500 for OAB, plus gift aid, which is clearly fantastic. I was also lucky enough to regularly appear on BBC Oxford Radio and BBC South Today TV, with each interview providing a great opportunity to talk about OAB and the cause of people with sight impairment in Oxfordshire. You can hear some of the interviews and TV clips at our www.oxeyes.org.uk website. If you are inspired to make a donation of your own, then the website to do so is www.virginmoneygiving.com/benallcock. You are also, of course, very welcome to send a cheque to OAB at the usual address: Bradbury Lodge, Gordon Woodward Way, Oxford, OX1 4XL. Thank you to all readers who have already made a donation.

As some of you may already be aware, I will soon leave OAB to live in London. My hope is that Run Oxfordshire worked as a “farewell present” to help promote OAB to more potential service users and supporters around the county. I feel very lucky to have worked with OAB as a Fundraiser, having previously volunteered for the charity and I am looking forward to helping out by making more donations of my own to OAB in the future.

I would like to end my article by thanking the many of you reading this, as well as the many people associated with OAB who sadly cannot be with us now, who have touched me in some way during my four years here. It has been an absolute honour to be this charity’s Fundraiser. I am very excited by OAB’s future with Fiona and Laura working together on a part-time basis to raise as much funds as possible for OAB; I know that you will enjoy getting to know them as they settle in. Thank you.

Ben

[ More information on Ben's challenge can be read here ]

Talking Thames

At the moment Thame and the surrounding area does not have a Talking Newspaper provided on cassette, CD or another format.

We have discussed this with Oxford Talking News and they have asked us to try and find out if there would be a demand for such a service. So if you live in the Thame area and would like to receive a local talking newspaper please let us know at Oxfordshire Association for the Blind 01865 725595.

Did you know?

A newborn baby sees the world upside down until the baby’s brain learns to turn the picture right-side up.