Wheelchair-bound Ex-Scotland Captain Raises Fortune For NHS

Michael Andrew Biggar is not a name that very many rugby fans will be familiar with today, however, the ex-Scotland captain is making waves after a truly admirable act of selflessness.

Biggar was born in 1949 and played for Scotland 24 times (4 as captain) between 1975 and 1980.

In 1992, tragedy struck when Biggar was involved in a car accident which left him with severe head injuries. After waking from a coma and five weeks on life support, he spent an entire year in hospital relearning how to walk and talk.

His perseverance and determination paid off and he was able to walk again, however, not as sturdily as before. This, coupled with arthritis he had developed meant that every fall he took had potentially serious consequences and he has thus been wheelchair-bound for the last 10 years.

However, recently, Biggar was greatly inspired by the sterling efforts of Captain Tom Moore, the 100 year old war veteran who successfully raised 30 million Pounds for the NHS by walking 100 times round his garden.

“Captain Tom is absolutely humbling. To see what other people can do... don’t be a spectator - go and do it,” Mr Biggar told the BBC.

In an effort to make his own contribution, Biggar is attempting to leave the safety of his wheelchair and walk 500 steps in 30 days.

His wife Ali said: “He’s never lost his sense of humour... but it’s very, very hard to watch him struggling with every step.”

“Walking just three or four steps a day is a huge effort for him, so we’re so proud of him in trying to accomplish this.”

Biggar is currently midway through his challenge and, thus far, has raised 61 000 Pounds for the NHS, smashing his original goal of 1000 Pounds!