THE wife of a Cherhill man who lost his hearing after contracting a virus expressed her delight that her fundraising efforts from running a marathon raised more than £3,000.

Ever since Rachel Harries' husband Owain, 52, contracted the virus, which left him with no balance and completely deaf, in 2009, she has sought to raise funds for causes relating to hearing loss.

And the 53-year-old did that in fine fashion by completing the London Marathon last month in just over five hours. This week her fundraising page sneaked past the £3,000 mark in aid of Action on Hearing Loss.

Just as Owain struggled through the virus, before getting a cochlear implant fitted in 2010 which made his life much more manageable, Mrs Harries went through the pain to complete the race, fuelled by her desire to finish it for her husband.

"It was a fantastic event. I was so determined to get over the line for him. It was a slow time but that did not matter, I loved every minute of it," she said.

"In the space of a few months, Owain, who used to be as a first class rugby player for Bristol in the 1980s, could not hear anything. It was a huge adjustment for all of us. He could not walk properly. I do not know how we got through it, looking back.

"He said he was very proud of me and I am so happy that we got through a year of hell and he is doing so well. At first he had to learn how to lip read but thanks to the cochlear implant, he is able to get by again.

"Our kids, Rhys and Sian, now 21 and 20, had to adjust to a dad who suddenly could not hear or walk properly. So we had to change everything we did as a family. Although he is a big burly rugby player, even crossing the road became a difficult ordeal.

"I am just so overjoyed to have done it for him and raise some money for the charity who have helped us immensely."

The charity provides support and care in communities, and campaigns for equality for the one in six people affected by some form of hearing loss across the UK.

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Rachel-Harries2