Bell Baxter High School's head of biology plans to run the Edinburgh Half Marathon, the Edinburgh BUPA 10k and the Scottish Kilomathon to raise money for the Stroke Association.

The achievement will be made all the more remarkable by Eric's own recovery from a stroke he suffered just four years ago.

January 31, 2006 — the date he collapsed while playing football at Elmwood College — is a day Eric says will remain with him forever.

All he remembers of the ordeal is getting out of an ambulance at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and being rushed into A&E.

Hours later he woke up in the neurology ward, where doctors told him he had suffered a stroke and was lucky to be alive.

The news came as a huge shock to the physically active Eric (47), who was a non-smoker with a good diet.

However, he was able to make a successful recovery and is now determined to use his experience to help others.

Eric said: "I wanted to raise money for the Stroke Association, a charity which has in fact just opened a new Scottish office in Edinburgh, so all the money I raise will stay in Scotland.

"I ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon in 2009, raising a massive total of £2500 thanks to generous donations from friends and family.

On Sunday, April 18, Eric will again run the Edinburgh Half Marathon — now endorsed by Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy — followed by the Edinburgh BUPA 10k two weeks later.

He will be joined on the second run by 10,000 other competitors on a spectacular course which takes in famous landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle, the Scott Monument and Holyrood Palace.

Finally, and after a well deserved rest over the summer, he will take on the 26km Scottish Kilomathon on October 3.