TEACHERS and staff members from Carnegie Primary School will be running the extra mile to raise funds for families experiencing stillbirth and neonatal death.

The group will split into five teams to complete the Hairy Haggis relay marathon as part of Edinburgh Marathon Festival on behalf of Sands charity.

Each will be named after the five ways to support wellbeing – Connect, Learn, Take Notice, Give, and Active – as promoted in the school.

Headteacher Julie Journeaux, who will be one of those taking part in the race, said: "Health and wellbeing is a central feature of the work we do at Carnegie Primary and is firmly based on the Ways to Wellbeing.

"Taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival is a wonderful way to support the wellbeing of our team, promote the ways across our school community and support a charity close to our hearts.

"I am relieved I am doing one of the Marathon's short sections though!"

The 26.2 miles is split into four legs, with each runner completing one leg on behalf of their team.

The first set will travel 8.3 miles on the Royal leg starting on Potterow and through the city centre, past many iconic sites sich as Greyfriars Bobby, Princes Street Gardens, and the Scott Monument.

They will then pass the baton to the next team member, who will take part in the 5.5 mile Cock and Pan leg which crosses the River Esk and passes Musselburgh Racecourse and onwards to the next changeover point at Port Seton Links.

The third round, the Gosford leg, lasts eight miles into East Lothian and past some of the world's most admired golf courses before heading back to Port Seton.

Finally, those taking part in the Glory leg will run 4.4 miles through Cockenzie and Prestonpans, past Musselburgh Links – the oldest golf club in the world – and finishing on the playing fields at Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School.

Organiser Nicola Atherton is a mental health first-aider for Fife Council and works as a Pupil Support Assistant within the school.

She said "The idea was to encourage better mental health in the school environment.

"We support the children with making positive choices for their mental health with the five ways of wellbeing Scottish Government incentive.

"We want to encourage people to take care of themselves better and support that ethos in the school.

"We thought we would only get one team at first but we got five teams so there will be 20 members of staff taking part."

Sands was chosen by staff as the most popular charity to raise money for, with plans to continue fundraising in similar ways for different charities over the coming years.

The race takes place on Sunday, May 28, and anyone who wishes to can donate at the Carnegie Primary School's fundraising page.