A ONE-OFF amateur rugby match will take place next week to raise vital funds for a teaching colleague who sustained life-changing injuries after being run over.

Each year a group of Gloucestershire Teachers come together and play a fixture against the ‘Stroud Combination’ for the Eric Blackman Shield.

This year the players will raise funds for a fellow teacher from the Stroud district, Katherine Poole - or Mrs Burridge as she will be known to her ex-students.

Katherine was left with significant, life-changing injuries when she was run over in Barcelona, and the money raised will go towards support her life at home with her husband and young son.

After the accident last year Katherine was left fighting for her life in the brain injury unit at Frenchay Hospital, however now, after nine months of gruelling rehabilitation, she is home with her family.

However, Katherine will need a high level of supervision and care and her home needs radical modifications to enable her to have some level of independence.

These modifications include improved access through the front door, fitting a toilet and wet room downstairs, landscaping the garden to make it more accessible for her, and extending the conservatory area to enable her to watch her son play.

A JustGiving page set up to raise the funds describes Katherine as 'the most imaginative, enthusiastic and dedicated of teachers'.

"She was treasured by students and staff, and remains so. Katherine went above and beyond for her school, her team and her students," it continues.

"Please join us in giving something back to this most determined, caring and committed mother, wife, daughter, sister, teacher and friend."

The fundraiser kicks off at Stroud Rugby Club next Wednesday at 7pm.

To donate visit bit.ly/2rLMP9N