[problem assigning a block of html/css with a foreach function to a variable?]

hey guys,

I'm quite new to PHP and i was wondering if someone would be able to help me out with this.

The code i have checks the database to see if a user has provided a Vimeo ID. If they haven't, $video_check will equal a line of html that says the user hasn't added any videos to their portfolio. If the a vimeo ID is present, i want $video_check to equal a bunch of html and css with a foreach function inside that is used to display the users videos from vimeo.

The foreach function works fine when its not assigned to the $video_check variable. How do i structure it so that it displays correctly?

 

If you click on videos on this page you might get a better idea of what i'm talking about.

http://www.myfilmportfolio.ie/profile.php?id=33

 

and here is the code i'm having the problem with:

 

///////  check if user has provided vimeo id  //////////////////////////

$vimeoID = $row["vimeoID"];

$video_check='';

if (empty($vimeoID)){

    $video_check = '<h3>'.$firstname .' has not added any videos to their portfolio</h3>';

    }

    else{

    $video_check = '<div id="stats">

          <div style="clear: both;"></div>

      </div>

      <div id="wrapper">

  <div id="embed"></div>

                <div id="thumbs">

<ul>

<?php foreach ($videos->video as $video): ?>

    <li>

                                    <h4><?=$video->title?></h4>

    <a href="<?php echo $video->url ?>">

    <img src="<?php echo $video->thumbnail_medium ?>" class="thumb" /></a>

    <p><?=$video->description?></p>

                                            <br />

    </li>

    <?php endforeach ?>

</ul>

</div>

</div>';

}

 

 

if anyone could help me out id really appreciate it.

Cheers,

G