COMMUNITY groups in and around Oldbury are gearing themselves up for next month’s fun run.

On Sunday, June 21, hundreds of runners will be pounding the streets of Oldbury making their way round a four-mile course in the name of charity.

The Oldbury Fun Run, which has been going for 25 years, raises money every year for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent as well as countless other local good causes, such as Severn Area Rescue Association and Oldbury Primary School.

Last year the event attracted 700 runners and around 2,000 spectators and organisers are hopeful the same success can be repeated this year.

This week organisers revealed the winning entry for the competition to design the fun run’s programme cover.

Every year pupils from Oldbury Primary School are asked to design the cover and this year’s winner is six-year-old Benjamin Burgess, who is in year two.

To make Oldbury’s younger residents feel included the fun run also includes a special class for them to enter. Last year 45 pupils ran the four miles.

Also involved in this year’s fun run are the Oldbury Deckers, Oldbury’s very own youth group run by Andrew Gazzard MBE, who will be bringing the Oldbury Deckers’ double-decker bus to the race.

Thornbury Running Club will be again providing timekeepers and marshals and Severn Area Rescue Service will provide first aid cover.

Dave Allen, who runs Day House Farm in Hill, will for a second year, along with his family, be running a hog roast and barbecue.

Mr Allen said: "We have been involved as a family since the beginning 25 years ago.

"We have always taken part in some way but last year, because of our diversification at the farm, got asked to run the barbecue.

"The fun run is a really good community event and we stay involved because it supports the village and the cancer charity."

This year's race will be started by paralympian Kate Grey, from Tytherington.

There is still time to sign up for the 2009 Oldbury Fun Run and all participants will receive a £5 voucher for the Sweatshop and free membership at Elite Fitness and Leisure Gym on St Mary Street, Thornbury.

The free gym membership will be valid until the run on June 21.

Application forms are available online at www.oldburyfunrun.co.uk All enquiries to info@oldburyfunrun.co.uk