Mark's run of luck from PM

MULTI-MARATHON runner Mark Cooper has received backing from Prime Minister Gordon Brown ahead of his marathon challenge.

The Mountcastle man, 27, plans to run 50 marathons, from Amsterdam to Barcelona, in 56 days in aid of Edinburgh Headway Group, a charity which helps those with head injuries.

He has already raised 11,000 and hopes to reach 25,000, in memory of his mother Sheila, who died of a brain haemorrhage when he was 14.

Now he has received a letter from Mr Brown wishing him well. "It was just a good luck message saying my mum would be proud of me, and I thought it was really nice of him to take the time out of his day to do that, considering how busy he must be at the moment," he said.