A DAY of fundraising on Easter Sunday helped raise more than £3,500 for a popular Aberystwyth dad recovering from a serious head injury.

Now the total amount raised for Daemon Smith, 40, who fractured his skull and was left in a coma after a fall down stairs on New Year’s Eve, has surpassed the £10,000 target.

Friends of Daemon say the money will go towards his ongoing care and contribute to the upbringing of his eight-year-old daughter Felicity while he is unable to work.

Known as ‘Big D’ to friends, Daemon, a staff member at Cambrian Printers, is recovering in the neuro-rehabilitation unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.

Former teammates of Daemon, who played football for Penparcau and Penrhyncoch football clubs for 20 years, squared off in a charity football match between two select teams from either club as part of a day of fund-raising.

The day, which was held at Min-y-ddôl playing fields, Penparcau, started with a duck race, and was followed by the football match.

Raffle tickets were on sale, and Cliff Thomas provided barbecue food to purchase throughout the day.

Moving inside Min-y-ddôl pavilion in the evening, an auction was held with some highly coveted items up for grabs.

These included a signed Paul Gascoigne Tottenham Hotspur shirt; a signed Pele Brazil shirt; a signed Joe Calzaghe print; a signed Jonathan Trott mini cricket bat; and a signed Lester Pigott print.

To donate to Daemon’s rehab fund, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Big-D-Rehab-fund.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online on Wednesday