Santa's On The Run In Oxford

Trying out a new camera today, think I need to adjust the date setting?  Well didn't we have a lot of Santa's in town this morning for the Santa's On The Run 2012.  Think there was more than last year, and lucky I arrived when I did cause I think it may have started a minute or so early. Still nice to see so many people out enjoying the run, and it was not to cold.

Bananaman Helps Children In Need

Over the last couple of days in Oxford and around the country people have been up to all sorts of weird and imaginative activities to raise money for the BBC's Children in Need appeal.  This morning in Cornmarket I spotted "Banana Man" shaking a bucket and promoting the super hero powers of Banana Man.  I must admit that I had not heard of Banana Man before today!

New Theatre Santa's

The Santa's On The Run event in Oxford yesterday was a great success, with over 1200 Santa's running around Oxford raising money for Helen and Douglas House. We, that's Hannah and I are still collecting for this charity, so if you feel like you can help out in anyway, please donate online via this LINK, and thanks again, for those who have already supported.

I am going to do this again next year for sure, but I think I might train and I would like to get to around the 7 min a mile mark, I will keep you posted. More photo's to follow, on the additional page, but just wanted to say thanks and post a photo of the team.

Helen and Douglas Christmas Shop Open

A very local charity in Oxford, Helen and Douglas House, which runs the worlds first purpose built hospice for children and young adults in Oxford, has opened a special Christmas Shop in Summertown. The store is right next to the charities permanent store in Banbury Road.

Apart from these stores, the charity has a number of fundraising events in and around Oxford during the year, and one of the most popular one will happen on Sunday the 11th of December, and it will be the Santa's Fun Run. Oxford will see over 1000 runners in Santa Suits on this Sunday Morning, completing the short 2 miles route in the city centre.

If anyone would like to support this run, I would like to advertise and promote a good friend of mine, Hannah, who is going take part in Santa's On The Run on Sunday. I have not asked for donations in the past on this site, I would like to have taken part in this event myself, but when I tried to register this morning they had reached the numbers limited to the event. So please if you can spare a couple of pounds for a very good cause, please use this link to Hannah's fund-raising page, she is part of the New Theatre Team, and she is hoping to raise £100 for the Charity. I will try and get a nice photo of Hannah in the Santa run for the 11th photo.

Pray For Jay Mini

Saw this very smart looking Mini parked outside the main shopping centre in Oxford this afternoon, with a lot of badges and stickers on it. When I first had a look I thought that it was part of a car rally, but on closer inspection I read that it was touring the South of England supporting Jay. Jay was a performer at Lego Land in Windsor who had an accident while performing and is now in need of 24hour medical support. A couple of barbers who know Jay have started this tour and where giving haircuts for a donation to help Jay with the costs of his care. Real tragic storey of a young man who left of work the morning the accident happened not knowing that his life would be so different by the afternoon. Read Jay's story here.

St Anne's College Rowathon

Students from St Anne's College were out in Bonn Square today raising money for charity. The students looked like they were having fun, in the 24 hour Rowathon event. I am not sure if they rowed all night, I should have asked. One of the ways to collect money was to buy a scoop of Ice Cream from Oxford own G&D Ice Creamery. Pictured here rowing along side a student is the G&D mascot having a row and helping out. Not sure if this character has a name, maybe someone can help me out with this?

Royal Wedding In Charity Shops

The United Kingdom is in Royal Wedding mode at the moment, everywhere you look you can see references to Union Flag, Kate and Will, everything has a Royal connection. Even in the charity shops this window has a feature with Kate and Will highlighting the fact that they have a range of second hand suits and wedding dresses at good prices. This photo was taken this morning in Little Clarendon Street it is the window of Sobell House Hospice Charity shop, not sure where they got the cut out faces, but they do the job.

Oxford University Japan Society Collection

Back online after a couple of days without a computer, sorry about that guys. Today while in Oxford I could not help but donate to these Japanese students from Oxford University who were collecting on behalf of the Japanese Red Cross.

I had just twittered a couple of hours before how I was reading about what was happening in Japan and said that I would like to help, when I spotted these guys taking time out of there studies to collect for the victims of that shocking earthquake last Friday.

I was not even aware that there was a Oxford University Japanese Society until I gut talking to this couple, they told me that there were about 20 students at the University from Japan and more who attend Oxford Brookes. Well done guys, and from the Red Cross website it looks like students around the UK have collected/donated over £10000 for the appeal.

The start of a quest

While Percy is enjoying a well deserved vacation in the sun, I will take you on a quest. I'm going to try to find the seven virtues in Oxford. Prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope and charity will all come along this week.

Today it's charity (or love) and I have to admit I have found this virtue in a rather unusual place. These two guide dogs are longing for your attention when you order some drinks at the bar in the Head of the River pub near Folly Bridge. If you take a closer look, you can see that there is a little slit in the head of the puppy. So if you like to support guide dogs for the blind, you are free to drop some of your change. I think it is a great way to show you care about this organisation. Apart from that the statue itself also shows us a great example of unlimited loving-kindness; a mother dog taking care of her puppy. I would say today's mission is accomplished; I have found charity in Oxford but where do you find this virtue in your home town?

Oxford To Cambridge Bike Ride 2010

Bit of a wet and windy start to this years Oxford to Cambridge bike ride this morning. I was not aware that this event was today, as had I know I would have entered I think, I must plan ahead next year and get a team together. I was in the city centre early this morning and noticed all the cyclist gathering in Gloucester Green, everyone was pumped up getting ready to start the ride. It is not a race, and you can leave over a two hour period between 7am and 9am for the ride on country roads to Cambridge. I was told that it would be about a 4-6hour ride to Cambridge. There was arrangements in place to bus the riders back to Oxford with there bikes should they need it, and I think that the money raised was going to the British Heart Foundation. Pity the weather was not that great today, but a big well done to all those to rode in the ride today! Congratulations!

Elder Stubbs Allotments

Up on Rymers Lane in Cowley is a great community allotment group called Elder Stubbs. They have a small cafe and store selling locally grown produce, and also manage the allotments, well worth a visit if you are into local fresh products, or a nice warm meal at great prices, with all the proceeds supporting the continuation of the Elder Stubbs charity

Oxford Harley Davidson Club Toy Run Children's Hospital

A couple of the many Harley Davidson bikes parked outside the Oxford Children's Hospital.  Harley Davidson bikers from around Oxford and Thames Valley rode in mass to the hospital to donate gifts for the children who are being looked after at the hospital.

It looked like the members of the clubs involved had enjoyed both the bike ride into Oxford and also giving the gifts to the hospital which amounted to quiet a few cages of toys, games and craft items.  More photos here.

Charity Hitch Hike To Morocco

Meet these two students in St Giles this morning who are hitching to Morocco to raise money to raise money for the charity LINK who help with the building of schools in Africa. They told me that they hope to get to Morocco in about 6 days.  Good on them, I give them a donation for the charity to help them along.  Not sure how they are going to get back!!  Good Luck Guys!!

I just looked at the LINK website and you can track the progress of the hitchers, unfortunately I did not get these guys names to this, anyone recognise them? Would love to see how they are going.