For runner Tom Burns, the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run isn’t just a race – it’s the fruits of a year’s labour to fall in love with exercise again.

After battling with mental health issues, the 33-year-old Dundee resident has set out to become healthier not only for himself, but for his children’s future.

And despite an injury in training, Tom says he is more determined than ever to complete the challenge as one of 32 runners representing their local community in the ‘10 week to 10k’ running challenge.

“I have had a bit of a tough time in the last year or so with health issues, but predominantly mental health,” said Tom.

“I bottled things up for quite a while and never got any help. Once I got some help, the doctor said you should try and work towards something, doing some form of exercise would really help.

“With the health issues, I just want to be healthier for my future and my children. I don’t want to be one of those dads that are out of breath as soon as they start playing with their children.

“My kids are my life and I really want to make sure I am here for them with no issues and be able to play and be healthy.”

Bank of Scotland, which sponsors the Great Scottish Run taking place on September 30, launched the Community Challenge to help get Scotland active.

The campaign aims to recruit one runner from each of the 32 local authorities in Scotland to take on a ‘10 week to 10k’ running challenge.

Each runner will embark on their own personal journey in a “10 week to 10k” challenge, receiving a personalised training programme by an expert coach in the weeks leading up to the run, on September 30.

And while the Dundee runner is hoping to record a time under an hour, Tom says he is hoping to continue his running endeavours in the future after getting the bug for the sport.

“I am aiming for an hour. If I can get an hour flat I will be happy.

“With the injuries it can put a bit of a dampener on the training, but I’ve just tried to be as positive as I can, and I’ve got that goal for myself.

“I know it’s not about the time, but it’s more the other aspects of it that I’m doing it for.

“I’ve joined a running club in Dundee now which I am going to start going to more now.”

Bank of Scotland is celebrating its 10th year as proud partner of the Great Scottish Run and for the second-year running will support runners from communities across Scotland on their 10 weeks to 10k challenge in the Bank of Scotland Community Challenge. For more information, visit greatscottishrun.com/community-challenge