A CHARITABLE trust which supports athletes with a disability and rising badminton stars is four figures better off after a Dunfermline High pupil's epic fundraiser.

S3 pupil Callan McCouat has raised an incredible £1,400 for the Russell Hogg Trust after taking on a challenge to complete a half-marathon distance in under two hours.

As part of his black belt grading, kickboxer Callan was asked to complete a sponsored event for a community charity, and he chose the organisation that was established in memory of Russell, himself a former Dunfermline High pupil, and one-time head boy at the school.

Running around Townhill Loch 13 times to achieve his goal, Callan completed his effort in one hour and 56 minutes and, having set out originally to raise £200, the support of family, friends and his kickboxing club, Fife Kickboxing and Self Defence Academy in Dunfermline, enabled him to present the four-figure sum to the trust.

In addition, he retained his focus on his kickboxing progress, allowing him to complete a physically and technically gruelling six-hour grading to achieve black belt status towards the end of the summer.

Julie Hogg, Russell's widow and trustee of the Russell Hogg Trust, said: "With Callan’s support we are further able to assist the next generation of young para athletes and badminton players into sport and allow their sporting careers to progress.

"The trust is extremely grateful to Callan, his club Fife Kickboxing and Self Defence Academy, and all others who contributed to the funds raised. His effort is extremely gratefully received by the trust and our athletes."

A talented badminton player, Russell was just 44 when he died in September 2012 following a battle with cancer.

Scotland's third-most capped player, with 117 appearances, he represented his country at every level and, in 2002, won Commonwealth Games bronze in Manchester.

Russell, who was also a reserve for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, worked for Badminton Scotland for six years from 2004 before moving to Scottish Disability Sport, where he supported and developed grassroots programmes for athletes and players with a disability.

Following his death, Julie established the trust in his name to support such athletes, as well as aspiring badminton players aged between six and 16 to help them progress their sporting careers and aspire to higher levels of their sport.