An AMMANFORD dad who is running the London Marathon for a deaf charity has been handed a bumper donation from a leading housebuilder.

Ian Roach is taking on the famous 26.2 mile challenge next year in aid of the National Deaf Children’s Society.

Ian’s daughter Tilly was born profoundly deaf and as there is no other deafness in the family, Ian didn’t know what to do but the NDCS was there to support the family from the off.

Ian is hoping to say thank you to NDCS by raising as much money as possible by pounding the streets of London, and now Persimmon Homes West Wales has chipped in with a £1,000 donation.

Ian said: “I am extremely grateful to Persimmon Homes for this generous donation.

“The National Deaf Children’s Society is a charity very close to my heart. I need to raise £1,800 for them by running the marathon, but my target is much higher.

"We were heartbroken when we discovered Tilly was deaf but we had a beautiful little girl who now at nearly five-years-old has exceeded all our expectations.

“This donation from Persimmon is a big boost.”

The donation comes as part of Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme, which sees the regional builder donate up to £2,000 to good causes in its area each month.

Nationally, across the company’s 28 regional businesses in Britain, Persimmon has handed out more than £500,000 in 2016 alone.

Sharon Robinson, sales director at Persimmon Homes West Wales, said: “We are delighted to be able to donate this money to Ian.

“It must have been very hard for the family when their daughter was born deaf, but the charity helped them to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

“Persimmon Homes West Wales has now awarded over £37,000 to charities and groups since Community Champions began.

“We’d urge others to come forward and tell us why they need our help by visiting persimmonhomes.com/charity."

Persimmon Homes is currently building a range of two, three and four bedroom houses at its Maes y Parc development in Cross Hands, where prices start at £114,995.