Pupils and teachers put hearts into run for spinal injury charity

MORE than 200 schoolmates of a Scottish teenager who injured his spine in a rugby accident will sweat it out in tomorrow's Great Edinburgh Run. Former Scottish under-18 international Nick Watt is still recovering after a scrum collapsed during a schools match.

Friends at Merchiston Castle School have raised over £40,000 for a charity assisting his recovery, and 258 pupils and teachers have signed up to run the 10km.

The fundraiser was the idea of Nick's friend Patrick Costello, who was amazed to exceed his initial £10,000 target. He said: "This is such a worthwhile cause and he is such a good friend to many people in the year."

The money will go to Hearts and Balls, which helps players who have suffered spinal injuries to get moving again with wheelchairs, specialist mattresses or even a carer.