FRIENDS of a popular Aberystwyth dad recovering from a serious head injury have teamed up to run 90 miles overnight to help his recovery.

Starting at Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Tâf, at 8pm on Friday, 23 June, nine runners ran a relay which ended in Aberystwyth on Saturday and raised over £2,000 for the ‘Big D Rehab Fund’.

The event, organised by friends of 40-year-old Daemon Smith (known as Big D to his friends) who fractured his skull and was left in a coma after a fall down stairs on New Year’s Eve, was held to raise money for him and his eight-year-old daughter Felicity.

Daemon was at Min-y-ddôl in Penparcau to welcome the relay runners back.

Daemon, a member of staff at Cambrian Printers, is continuing his recovery in the neuro-rehabilitation unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.

Neil Adams, a friend of Daemon’s from Nantgarw and organiser of the ‘Dee’s Relay’ run, said he was moved to raise money after hearing what had happened to Daemon.

“I just heard about what happened to Daemon, and because he is a mate and it was such a horrible thing to happen to such a nice guy, I thought ‘how can I do something that’s out there?’,” he said.

“I am used to overnight long training exercises and tried to incorporate that into the challenge.

“It was extremely painful and tiring, but it was for a very good cause.

“I’d like to thank everyone who came out and ran and helped.”

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