Pupils at an Edinburgh school are making final preparations this week for massive fundraising run in memory of a prep school pupil who lost her battle with cancer last year.

More than 500 pupils at Fettes College are due to complete a run or a half marathon in a bid to raise £10,000 for CHAS, the hospice association which runs Rachel House.

Staff there cared for Verity Young before she passed away, aged eight, in November last year. Verity had been diagnosed with Lupus at the age of three, leaving her requiring regular blood transfusions. The brave youngster dedicated herself to raising awareness of the need for blood donors, but was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and lost her battle for life less than a year later.

Verity's mother Laura told STV News that even during her short time at Fettes College prep school, she had become a big part of the school community.

She said: "I think everybody here remembers her whizzing about in her wheelchair with a big grin on her face. I don't think anyone could have missed her in the school, cause she would be careering down corridors or going across paths with others pushing her.

"We were totally overwhelmed when we heard about the fundraising effort. It is brilliant, and that's so similar to our feelings about Rachel House and what they did for us because that was brilliant. At Rachel House the whole family can enjoy themselves at a time which is actually quite stressful for the whole family."

Pupils at Fettes hold an annual fundraising run, with proceeds going to a different local charity each year. However, staff say there was little doubt over who would benefit this year. And the pupil's knowledge of the work of CHAS has made this year's run a bigger event than usual.

Headteacher Michael Spens said: "We normally get a big turnout but this is by some margin the largest. I mean, there's less than a hundred of the school not running. Some of them will be just too wee to run, around 7-years-old, and some will be injured, but apart from that, it's pretty much a full turnout by the school, which is fantastic. We do this every year to raise money for a local charity, but this year has a particular resonance because of Verity."

He added: "I'm enormously proud. It was a real tragedy and these things impact on a community like ours hugely. Although Verity was in the prep school and we didn't see a lot of her in the senior school, when something like that happens it is a real emotional shock for everyone.

"The result is that, as any good community does, it pulls together and everybody is very keen to help and support and do what they can. And this is a practical way that they can express their support for Verity's family and raise money for an extremely worthy cause. So I'm extremely proud."

Donations can still be made through the school's fundraising website.