In September 2021, something happened that meant my family and I had to relocate to Ronald McDonald House Oxford for two months; I didn't know much about them before, other than they were the counter-top beneficiaries of the spare change from the many Cheeseburgers, Big Macs and McNugget Shareboxes I'd bought from various Golden-Arched eateries down the years.

It turns out they're incredible, providing families with a child in hospital somewhere close by, safe and secure to stay for as long as it takes; a space to relax, to recover, to feel vaguely normal again, and a sanctuary in an ocean of uncertainty and total bewilderment. When it feels like your world has caved in, the value of a warm smile in the morning is indescribable.

During our stay, the mighty dual Northern powerhouses of Daniel 'Butters' Butterfield and Tom 'Wildman' Wildman ran the Oxford Half, which went almost right past the hospital. We walked down to cheer them on, and I pledged there and then that in 2022, I'd run the same race, raising money for the amazing people at RMHC UK and the vital work they do.

So here we are: It's an ambitious target, but £5,000 would allow us to sponsor the room we called home, and help make someone else's world caving in feel that little bit more bearable.

Owen x

MEET THE TEAM

Name: Daniel Butterfield (second from right)
Nickname: Butters
Previous Running Experience: None - I'm freaking injured! (Dan, you did the half last year... Ed.)
Greatest Sporting Achievement: Voted Best Pavel Nedved lookalike, 2016-2022
Go-to McDonalds Order: Big Mac meal (regular).

Name: Ben Chesterman (left)
Nickname: Chesty/Chesticles
Previous Running Experience: Down Holloway Road every five minutes
Greatest Sporting Achievement: Winner, 2016 School Softball tournament (I think)
Go-to McDonalds Order: Wrap of the Day meal, 'cause I'm tight-fisted.

Name: Owen Collins (third from right)

Nickname: The Big O (or at least it was c.2007)
Previous Running Experience: Aborted attempt at Couch to 5k, 2019
Greatest Sporting Achievement: Runner-up, University of London Union Men's Hockey Reserves Cup, 2011-12. (A bye, a walkover, a half-decent semi and an anticlimax)
Go-to McDonalds Order: Chicken McNugget sharebox. For one.

Name: Joe Feeney (third from left)
Nickname: Baby Joe Loco/One Take Feeney
Previous Running Experience: Brighton Marathon, 2022. Six weeks' training, 4h20m, and a very salty forehead
Greatest Sporting Achievement: Playing Pele's stunt double in the 1981 classic 'Escape To Victory'
Go-to McDonalds Order: The McPlant, but with Chicken Selects wedged in (I just pretend to be vegetarian to impress Morrissey)

Name: John Gwatkin (second from left)
Nickname: Let's go with Johnny G as the least incriminating...
Previous Running Experience: Added running to the list of things I can do at mediocre level in 2012 (John, you've also run a half marathon before! Ed.)
Greatest Sporting Achievement: 2nd in the school 100m in Year 11, damn you Geoffrey for your speed, gold was not to be.
Go-to McDonalds Order: Double sausage and egg McMuffin with hash brown stacked in the muffin.

Name: Tom Wildman (right)
Nickname: Wildman
Previous Running Experience: Been running very averagely about eight years (You did last year's Oxford Half with Butters! Ed.)
Greatest Sporting Achievement: Won the Derbyshire Junior Golf Tournament 1991!
Go-to McDonalds Order: Chicken Legend meal, hot and spicy. Fries, coke.

ABOUT RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES UK
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children having treatment in hospital. Our Houses offer much more than just a place to stay; they provide family activities, peer support, respite, and many other services. This means that families can be by their child’s bedside in a matter of moments, whilst maintaining a degree of normal life with reduced emotional and financial strain.We help over 6,000 families each year and now, more than ever, we need your support. Thank you.