Staff at a St Albans secondary school are cut of the same cloth when it comes to running in support of a popular teenager who suffered a stroke during PE.

Verulam School’s staff running club, the Verulam Elite Running Society and Cake Eaters, (V.E.R.S.A.C.E) have competed in two half marathons, including St Albans Half Marathon on Sunday, to raise funds for Year 10 student Harrison Andrews.

On a fundraising page set up to help brave Harrison it explains that on January 26 this year, his life suddenly changed.

During a PE lesson Harrison collapsed, suffering a massive stroke which came completely out of the blue.

The page explains: “Childhood stroke is rare, affecting around five out of every 100,000 children. In some cases, like Harrison’s, there is no apparent cause.

“The stroke caused damage to the left side of Harrison’s brain and he was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), where his family had an agonising week-long wait for the swelling on his brain to reduce in order that his life was no longer in danger.

“Thankfully Harrison’s condition is improving.”

After being released from GOSH, he spent time at Watford General Hospital.

Since Easter Harrison has been receiving specialist rehabilitation treatment at The Children’s Trust in Tadworth, Surrey.

Verulam staff who competed on Sunday raised about £1,200 towards the campaign to help Harrison with his rehabilitation.

Apparently Harrison himself was on a water station, supporting the V.E.R.S.A.C.E runners.

Team members, who described the teen as popular and sporty, include representatives from the sixth form, the senior leadership team, SEN, financial studies and art and technology along with Harrison’s form tutor and head of year.

They ran in the Ashridge Half Marathon the previous weekend.

If you would like to help support Harrison and his family, go to www.gofundme.com/nsw0cs