22-02-2025
Oxford 80-year-old looking ahead to Blenheim Palace run
A keen charity fundraiser has celebrated her 80th birthday by looking ahead to a charity run at Blenheim Palace.
Eileen Williams, from North Oxford, has been a dedicated supporter of Oxford Hospitals Charity since 2008.
She has taken part in the OX5 Run numerous times and has also braved the Great Big Hospital Abseil challenge, raising funds for Oxfordshire hospitals.
Ms Williams, who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday, February 18, remains active, regularly visiting the gym and jogging with her springer spaniel Buddy.
Her passion for the charity stems from her 36-year career as a community health visitor in Kidlington and a health visitor teacher at Brookes University.
Looking ahead to the five mile run on March 23, she said: "It's such a lovely event, and the atmosphere at Blenheim Palace is fantastic.
"This year, I'm excited to bring my daughter-in-law Dimitra along to the OX5 who will be walking the route.
"I will be running and Buddy will trot alongside me, and we'll enjoy every moment."
To inspire more people to support her at the event, Ms Williams has displayed a personalised poster for the event in her local supermarket in Kidlington, featuring a photo of her from last year's run.
Lorna Eaton, supporter care officer from the charity, said: "Eileen is such an inspiration, her energy and enthusiasm is infectious - we wish her the happiest of birthdays."
