Runners of all abilities are preparing to tread new ground as they raise money to help some of the most seriously ill children at Wexham Park Hospital.

The annual Run Wexham trail race and family fun run, organised by the Frimley Health Charity, takes place on Sunday 8 July.

And this year’s event is getting a complete revamp – moving from the hospital surrounds to the nearby Black Park country park. The park, with its network of undulating paths and trails, is already an established route for many runners.

Entrants this year will have the choice of a £10km trail race, a 2km family fun run and, for the first time, a £5km run. 

The event will once again raise money for the charity’s Children’s Critical Care Appeal, a £210,000 campaign to support Wexham Park Hospital’s children’s high dependency unit.

All proceeds from Run Wexham 2018 will help very poorly children who have complex problems, buying specialist equipment for the unit above and beyond that provided by the NHS budget.

Participants are encouraged to wear fancy dress and there will be chip timings to give accurate finishing times for every runner.

If you join the Frimley Health Charity team your entry fee will be waived and you will get a free running vest to wear on the day — all you have to do is raise a minimum £50 sponsorship for Wexham Park Hospital before the event.

Run Wexham 2018 will even include a special ‘event village’ close to the start and finish area where you can gather to support the runners and the hospital. It will include a bouncy castle, face painting, retailers, food and refreshments.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust fundraising manager Anthony Kerslake said: “Run Wexham is a fantastic event for the whole family and we think the changes we have introduced this year will make it better than ever.

“Black Park is the perfect venue for our trail races and fun run, and we urge as many people as possible to join us on 8 July and raise as much sponsorship as possible for Wexham Park Hospital.”

Run Wexham will be the Frimley Health Charity’s second fundraising running event of the year.

On Sunday 6 May fundraisers took part in Run Frimley in aid of the Stroke Appeal at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, which is also run by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

You can register for Run Wexham and find more information about the event by visiting the Frimley Health Charity website.