DON’T tell Rory Laughton-Scott to break a leg before his big race, because he has already done it.

When the keen sportsman, 24, was injured in a football match, you might have thought that he wouldn’t be able to take part in October’s Great South Run.

But that didn’t cross his mind.

He was soon back in training and will complete the 10-mile run on crutches to raise money in memory of a lost friend.

He said: “I am a bit of a loony.

“I did it last year and I raised a lot of money for charity. When I broke my leg I just thought people would sponsor me for more money if they knew it was going to be far more difficult.

“I did three miles the other day and it took me one hour.”

Mr Laughton-Scott, who lives in Cowley, has been going up and down Headington Hill on his way to and from work to keep his fitness levels up and build up the muscles in his hands.

Last year he completed the Great South Run in one hour and five minutes.

This year he expects to take more than three hours.

Mr Laughton-Scott, who works at Oxford Brookes University business department, said: “I fractured my tibia bone and have had a full leg cast from my ankle to my waist.

“I am speaking to my doctors about it next week but I am going to do it anyway.”

He said he was determined to do the run because he is trying to raise funds for leukaemia and lymphoma research in memory of a friend, Oliver Shilling. He died two years ago at the age of 20 after battling with leukaemia.

He said: “I know it is going to be a difficult challenge but I am trying to get a big positive out of his death.

“We grew up together and we went on family holidays together. You don’t really know how to react. It was really sad and we all lost someone who meant a lot to us.

“He was born with leukaemia and he died four days before his 21st birthday.”

The Great South Run is a 10-mile road race which takes place every year in Portsmouth.

This year’s run takes place on October 30.

To donate to Mr Laughton-Scott’s cause, visit the website justgiving.com and search on his name.