Crime & Safety
Professor’s marathon mission for rare disorder awareness
James Edwards, originally from Carmarthen, is taking on the London Marathon to raise awareness and funds for Cure DHDDS, a charity supporting families affected by a rare neurological disorder.
Cure DHDDS supports those living with a mutation in the DHDDS gene—affecting fewer than 70 people in the world and causing progressive neurological decline from infancy.
Professor Edwards, who works at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, said: “This marathon place is a rare opportunity for the charity, and I wanted to do everything I can to make it count for them.”
Affectionately nicknamed the Plodding Professor, Professor Edwards has turned his preparation into a series of increasingly ambitious challenges that always ends with a pudding. He said: “Some traditions must be preserved.”
His efforts began with a 6km Inklings Challenge, connecting the graves of authors J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis in Oxford.
He added: “Running between the tombstones of literary giants felt like a good way to add a bit of narrative tension to my training. If Frodo could walk 1,800 miles, I felt I could at least manage a bit of Oxford.”
Professor Edwards joined Instagram to share his journey and raise awareness—something he describes as nearly as challenging as running itself. Despite the humour in his posts, he is clear that the struggles faced by families living with DHDDS are far more serious.
The charity, Cure DHDDS, was founded by a London family after two of their children were diagnosed with the condition. Due to its rarity, there is limited research and few resources available to affected families.
Professor Edwards said: “DHDDS families have felt abandoned by the system. Many feel incredibly isolated and frightened for their loved ones’ future.”
His training has included a variety of themed runs, such as the College to College Plod through all 44 Oxford colleges, a riverside Top of the Thames run, and a 15-mile Plod to Blenheim Palace—his version of the marathon’s Buckingham Palace finish.
He quipped: “Fewer crowds, more sheep. Felt a bit like home.”
He has also taken on a four-minute mile challenge on the track where Roger Bannister broke the record in 1954. He continued: “Simply finishing without being overtaken by a brisk walker would count as progress.”
Professor Edwards’ journey is part of a larger effort to raise awareness for the rare disorder. Supporters can follow his marathon preparations online as he runs across Oxford and beyond.
Cherwell District Council has expanded its monthly tenancy relations sessions to help tenants with housing issues.
The sessions are part of the council’s efforts to embed the requirements of the Renters’ Rights Act in the private rental market.
Kristian Aspinall, Executive Director Neighbourhood Services, said: “North Oxfordshire renters deserve safe, comfortable and well-managed homes.
“Our team is doing more to reach out to anyone who has concerns about their landlord, tenancy agreement or the standard of their accommodation.
“With the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force from 1 May, we are being proactive in making sure that landlords and renters understand, and benefit from, these welcome changes to renting.”
The sessions will be available at locations including Britannia Road Children’s Centre and Castle Quay in Banbury, Bicester Library, and WISH in Kidlington.
The next drop-in will take place on Friday, April 17 at Bicester Library.
Under the new act, private renters are set to gain stronger protections through the end of ‘no-fault’ evictions and the introduction of fairer rent rules.
The drop-in sessions are open to both tenants and landlords seeking advice.
Mr Aspinall said: “We have a friendly and very knowledgeable housing team, and we are delighted to be able to bring this drop-in service to more locations around the district.”
A new premises licence application was submitted to Oxford City Council for the shop at 15-16 Broad Street in the heart of the city.
The site is currently the headquarters for Footprints Tours, a popular walking tour group which operates the shop as a ‘tourist information’ centre in the city.
READ MORE: Tribute to ‘local rugby legend’ CEO of Chinnor RFC
The named business of the applicant for the premises licence is Footprints Tours itself, which is based in Henley.
It proposes opening a business called Roll and Bowl cafe in the Broad Street shop.
The premises licence indicates opening hours of 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am until 6pm on Sundays.
It requests a licence for the supply of alcohol between 10am and 7pm every day of the week.
The licence application is open for consultation on the Oxford City Council website until May 13.
The radio and TV legend was one of a host of famous faces to grace the Marsh Lane grounds in 1976 as part of a charity match.
The team of BBC disc jockeys went up against staff from Radio Oxford, to raise funds for the station’s charities.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire stalker jailed for posting 100s of TikTok videos
It’s just one of 10 archive pictures of charity football matches in Oxfordshire featured in this Oxford Mail archive gallery.
We also found pictures of boys who starred in popular TV soap Hollyoaks, who graced the pitch at the Kassam against Fox FM presenters for Children in Need in 2005.
Take a look back through the gallery to see whole host of charity football matches in action from over the years.
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